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Arms of Lord Sinclair
Arms of Lord Sinclair: Argent, a cross engrailed azure. (This is the family's coat of arms)

The title of Lord Sinclair is a special rank given to certain noble families in Scotland. It's part of the Peerage of Scotland, which is like a list of important noble titles. People who hold this title are called "Lords Sinclair."

Historians have different ideas about who was first called Lord Sinclair. Some, like James Balfour Paul, say it was William Sinclair, who was also the 3rd Earl of Orkney and 1st Earl of Caithness, and who passed away in 1480. Others, like Roland Saint-Clair, believe that William's father, Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, who died in 1420, was the first to be recorded with the title.

About the Lords Sinclair

Early History of the Title

In 1470, William Sinclair, who was the 3rd Earl of Orkney and 2nd Lord Sinclair, made an important exchange. He gave up his Earldom of Orkney. In return, he received the Earldom of Caithness.

William then divided his lands and titles among his sons. His oldest son from his first marriage, William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair, inherited the title of Lord Sinclair. His oldest son from his second marriage, Oliver, received the Barony of Roslin. The Earldom of Caithness went to his second son from his second marriage, another William. This second William is the ancestor of the main leaders of the Clan Sinclair.

Confirming the Title

Henry Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair (who died in 1513) was the son of William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair. His right to the title was confirmed by an Act of Parliament in 1488. However, some historians, like Roland Saint-Clair, believe this Act simply recognized that the Barony of St. Clair already existed through his ancestor, Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney. They don't think it created a brand new title.

Bernard Burke, another historian, agrees with Roland Saint-Clair. He states that Henry Sinclair (who died in 1513) and William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair (who died in 1570) were actually the fourth and fifth Lords Sinclair. The family's coat of arms, according to 18th-century expert Alexander Nisbet, is based on the older arms of the Earl of Orkney. This shows the direct family link to William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney.

Changes in the Family Line

When the tenth Lord Sinclair passed away, his direct male family line ended. His grandson, Henry, became the eleventh Lord. Henry was the son of Catherine Sinclair, who was the tenth Lord's daughter, and her husband John Sinclair, 23rd Lord Herdmanston.

In 1677, Henry received a new official document for the peerage. This document confirmed his right to the title. It also set out who would inherit the title if he had no direct male heirs. This included his brother Henry, and his father's brothers Robert, George, and Matthew St Clair. If none of them had male heirs, the title would go to any of his own male heirs.

However, Henry's oldest son, John Sinclair, was involved in the Jacobite rising of 1715. This was a rebellion against the government. Because of his involvement, Parliament took away his rights (this is called being "attainted"). This meant he was not allowed to take the title of Lord Sinclair.

The Title Becomes Dormant

John Sinclair died in 1750 without having any children. The claim to the title then passed to his younger brother, General James St Clair (who died in 1762). But James never officially took the title. When he died, the title became "dormant." This means it was inactive and no one held it.

The title remained dormant for many years. It was finally claimed successfully by Charles Sinclair, 13th Lord Sinclair. The House of Lords confirmed his right to the title in 1782. Charles was the son of Andrew St Clair, who was considered the 12th Lord Sinclair by right (de jure). Andrew was the grandson of Charles Sinclair, who was the 11th Lord Sinclair by right (de jure). This Charles was the great-grandson of Matthew St Clair, who was the uncle of the tenth Lord.

This meant Charles Sinclair became the first person to hold the title without being a direct descendant in the original male line. The thirteenth Lord, his son the fourteenth Lord, his grandson the fifteenth Lord, his great-grandson the sixteenth Lord, and his great-great-grandson the seventeenth Lord, all served in the British House of Lords as Scottish Representative Peers. These are nobles chosen to represent Scotland in the House of Lords.

As of 2016, the title is held by the eighteenth Lord, who is the only son of the seventeenth Lord. He inherited the title when his father passed away in 2004.

Historical Records and Compensation

Research from the University College London shows that Charles St Clair, 13th Lord Sinclair owned 666 enslaved people when slavery was ended in 1833. He received £5,411 from the British government as compensation. This amount would be worth about £458,000 in 2015.

The family's home is Knocknalling House, which is located near St John's Town of Dalry in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Lords Sinclair (1449)

Herdmanston Line of Succession

The title was dormant from 1762 to 1782.

  • Charles St Clair, de jure 11th Lord Sinclair (d. 1775)
  • Andrew St Clair, de jure 12th Lord Sinclair (1733–1775)
  • Charles St Clair, 13th Lord Sinclair (1768–1863) (His right to the title was confirmed in 1782.)
  • James St Clair, 14th Lord Sinclair (1803–1880)
  • Charles William St Clair, 15th Lord Sinclair (1831–1922)
  • Archibald James Murray St Clair, 16th Lord Sinclair (1875–1957)
  • Charles Murray Kennedy St Clair, 17th Lord Sinclair (1914–2004)
  • Matthew Murray Kennedy St Clair, 18th Lord Sinclair (b. 1968). Lord Sinclair was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Kirkcudbright on July 29, 2021.

The heir apparent (the person next in line to inherit the title) is the current Lord's son, Harry Murray Kennedy St. Clair, Master of Sinclair (b. 2007).

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