Henry Sinclair, 6th Lord Sinclair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Sinclair
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| Lord Sinclair | |
Lord Sinclair coat of arms
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| Predecessor | William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair |
| Successor | Henry Sinclair, 7th Lord Sinclair |
| Died | 1601 |
| Noble family | Clan Sinclair |
| Father | William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair |
| Mother | Lady Elizabeth Keith |
Henry Sinclair (died 1601) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was known as the 6th Lord Sinclair. This title meant he was a powerful leader in Scotland. Some old records call him the 5th Lord Sinclair, but many historians agree he was the 6th, following his ancestor Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, who was the first person recorded with the Lord Sinclair title.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Henry Sinclair was the son of William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Keith. She was also the daughter of William, the 3rd Earl Marischal.
Becoming Lord Sinclair
Henry Sinclair first appeared in official records in 1560. He was called a "Baron of Parliament," which meant he was a nobleman with a special role in the Scottish government.
In 1565, he joined other nobles from Fife to sign an agreement. This agreement promised their loyalty to the King and Queen and said they would help find rebels who had gone to England. Later that year, he was chosen as a "Keeper of Havens." This job meant he helped manage Scotland's ports and harbors.
Henry Sinclair was also part of the "Lords of Convention" in 1569. This was a meeting of important Scottish leaders. He voted against the Queen's divorce at this meeting. He also supported the Reformation, a big change in the Christian church. He was a member of the Privy Council of Scotland, a group of advisors to the King, before 1573.
Henry became the 6th Lord Sinclair in 1570 after his father passed away. In 1579, he reported that his home, Knockhall in Aberdeenshire, had been attacked. He suspected a "broken man" named William Forbes of Spayside. A "broken man" was someone who had broken the law and was outside of normal society. An order was then given for the people in the house to leave.
Interests and Loyalty
Henry Sinclair was interested in poetry. There is a collection of poems in the Bodleian Library that is described as belonging to him. This collection has 231 pages and includes writings and signatures from different people. One page even has a picture of the Orkney coat of arms. This is thought to be one of the oldest examples of Scottish art on vellum or paper.
Henry Sinclair was very loyal to James VI of Scotland. In 1587, after Mary, Queen of Scots died, King James asked his courtiers to appear before him. Henry, Lord Sinclair, arrived wearing a full suit of armor. The King was surprised and asked why he was dressed that way. Sinclair replied that it was the proper way to mourn the Queen of Scotland.
A family tree of the Sinclair family, which Henry supposedly drew in 1590, is kept in the Lyon Office.
In 1591-92, the Earl of Huntly sought safety in Sinclair's Ravenscraig Castle. The Earl had been involved in the death of the former Regent Moray. Sinclair told him he was welcome to enter, but would have been twice as welcome if he had just passed by. In 1596, Henry, Lord Sinclair, was ordered to release William Bonar of Rossie, whom he had held prisoner in Ravenscraig Castle.
Family Life
Henry Sinclair, 6th Lord Sinclair, was married twice.
His first wife was Janet, daughter of Patrick, Lord Lindsay. They had several children:
- James Sinclair, who was known as the Master of Sinclair. He passed away in 1592. James married Isabella, daughter of Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes. They had three sons: Henry, James, and Patrick, who all later became Lord Sinclair. They also had two daughters, Catherine and Margaret. Margaret married William Sinclair, Lord Berriedale.
- Patrick Sinclair, who married Catherine, daughter of James Boswell of Balmuto. Patrick's family line became the Sinclairs of Belgreggie.
- Andrew Sinclair, who was a member of the Danish Rigsraad, a royal council in Denmark. He married Kristina Kaas, a Danish noblewoman, and they had at least three sons and one daughter.
- Magnus Sinclair.
- Helen Sinclair, who married Andrew Kinninmount of Kinninmount.
Henry Sinclair's second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of William, 7th Lord Forbes. They had the following children:
- Henry Sinclair, whose descendants became the "Swedish Sinclairs."
- Laurence Sinclair.
- William Sinclair.
- Elizabeth Sinclair, who married Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy. Their family line became the Earls of Breadalbane and Holland.
- Jane Sinclair.
Death
Henry Sinclair, 6th Lord Sinclair, passed away on October 21, 1601. His grandson, Henry Sinclair, 7th Lord Sinclair, took over the title. However, this Henry died in 1602. Then, his brother James Sinclair, 8th Lord Sinclair became Lord Sinclair. James died in 1607, and his brother Patrick Sinclair, 9th Lord Sinclair became Lord Sinclair. Patrick died in 1617, and his son John Sinclair, 10th Lord Sinclair then held the title.
See also
