John St Clair, Master of Sinclair facts for kids
John St Clair, Master of Sinclair (born 1683, died 1750) was a Scottish Army officer and a politician. He was briefly a Member of Parliament in 1708. His life was full of adventure, including serving in the Prussian army and being involved in a major rebellion in Scotland.
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Early Life and Challenges
John St Clair was born on December 5, 1683. His father was Henry St Clair, 10th Lord Sinclair, and his mother was Grizel Cockburn. John went to university at University of Franeker. In early 1708, he became a captain in a regiment.
Later that year, John was involved in a serious disagreement with another officer. This led to a difficult situation. He then faced a military trial because of these events. On October 17, 1708, he was given a severe punishment.
Political Career and Escape
While facing these challenges, John St Clair became a Member of Parliament for Dysart Burghs in May 1708. He was chosen because of his father's influence. However, he was removed from his position on December 3, 1708. This was mainly because he was the eldest son of a Scottish noble, which made him ineligible. His military punishment would also have removed him.
John avoided his punishment by escaping from the army camp. This happened with the help of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Marlborough helped him join the army of King Frederick I of Prussia. John served in the Prussian army for the rest of the war.
Involvement in the Jacobite Rebellion
In 1712, Queen Anne gave John St Clair a pardon. This was arranged by the Duke of Hamilton. John then returned to Dysart, Scotland. He tried to stay out of politics. However, he soon became involved in the Jacobite rising of 1715. This was a rebellion that aimed to bring the Stuart family back to the throne.
John had some success in the rebellion at Burntisland. But he was later criticized for not taking advantage of an attack during the Battle of Sheriffmuir in November 1715. After the battle, he fled to Kirkwall Castle. From there, he went to Europe. Because of his involvement, he lost his right to inherit his father's title and property.
John St Clair did not return to Scotland for ten years. This was mainly because of the strong feelings against him from one of the Schaw brothers, John Schaw. He finally received another pardon in 1726. However, the decision to prevent him from inheriting his father's title remained in place.
Later Life and Family
On August 16, 1733, John St Clair married Lady Margaret Stewart. She was the daughter of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway. She was also the widow of James Carnegie, 5th Earl of Southesk. In 1736, a special law was passed that helped with some of the terms of his earlier punishment. However, he never officially took his father's title.
His first wife, Lady Margaret, died in 1747. On April 24, 1750, he married his second wife, Amelia Murray. She was the daughter of Lieutenant-General Lord George Murray. They married at Arnhall.
John St Clair died at Dysart on November 2, 1750. He did not have any children from either of his marriages. His younger brother, James, inherited his title. James was a general in the British Army and a Member of Parliament for forty years.
