James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres facts for kids

James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres (born November 14, 1691 – died February 20, 1768), was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of Colin Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Balcarres, and Lady Margaret Campbell. James became the 5th Earl of Balcarres on July 25, 1736, after his brother Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Balcarres, passed away.

A Life at Sea and in the Army

James Lindsay started his career in the Royal Navy when he was just 13 years old. He served for 12 years, learning about ships and the sea.

• In 1705, he joined a large warship called HMS Ipswich.
• He then moved to other ships like HMS Bedford and HMS Defiance.
• By 1708, he was on HMS Burford.
• He became a lieutenant in 1711, serving on the frigate HMS Lizard and later on HMS Portland.

After leaving the navy in 1712, James returned to Scotland. He joined his father in the 1715 Jacobite rising, which was a rebellion to put James Francis Edward Stuart on the throne. He fought in the Battle of Sheriffmuir, which didn't have a clear winner.

When the rebellion was put down, James had to hide in a secret room at Newark Castle. Luckily, his aunt helped him get a pardon, meaning he wouldn't be punished. However, he was removed from the navy in 1716.

Later, he joined the army of King George I. He fought in the War of the Austrian Succession, a big conflict involving many European countries. He was part of important battles like the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 and the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.

After his military career, James focused on improving his home and farms at Balcarres.

Family Life

On October 24, 1749, when he was 58 years old, James married Anne Dalrymple. She was 22 at the time. They had a large family with eight sons and three daughters:

• Lady Anne Lindsay (1750–1825): A famous poet and songwriter.
• Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres (1752–1825): He later became the 6th Earl of Balcarres.
• Lady Margaret Lindsay (1753–1814)
• Hon. Robert Lindsay (1754–1836)
• Hon. Colin Lindsay (1755–1795): An Army Officer who died in action.
• Hon. James Stair Lindsay (1758–1783): An Army officer who was killed in battle.
• Hon. William Lindsay (1759–1785): Sadly, he drowned.
• Rt. Rev. Hon. Charles Dalrymple Lindsay (1760–1846): He became a bishop.
• Lt-Col. Hon. John Lindsay (1762–1826)
• Lady Elizabeth Lindsay (1763–1858)
• Hon. Hugh Lindsay (1765–1844)

Lady Balcarres, James's wife, was known for being a very strict mother. One story tells how she once ordered her servants to put one of her sons into the pond in front of their house because he had disobeyed her. He climbed out, and she ordered it again. When she told them to do it a third time, her son famously exclaimed in his Scottish accent, "Woman, would you drown your own son?"

Later Years and Passing

James Lindsay passed away on February 20, 1768, at the age of 76. He died at Balcarres, Fife, Scotland, where he was also buried. His oldest son, Alexander Lindsay, became the 6th Earl of Balcarres and inherited his title.

Sources

• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• thepeerage.com
• The Balcarres history