Sir George Sinclair, 2nd Baronet facts for kids

Sir George Sinclair, 2nd Baronet (born August 28, 1790 – died 1868), was an important Scottish politician and writer. He came from a well-known family and spent his life working for change in Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Early Life and Education

George Sinclair was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the oldest son of Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet and Diana Macdonald. His family included his brothers John and William, and his sister Catherine.

A Bright Student

When he was just ten years old, George went to Harrow School, a famous school in England. He studied there with future important figures like Lord Byron and Sir Robert Peel. Lord Byron, who was a friend of George's, once said that George was "the prodigy of our school-days." This means George was incredibly talented and smart. He could write essays and poems for many of his classmates!

Meeting Napoleon

At sixteen, George left Harrow and traveled to Göttingen in Germany. During his travels, he was arrested because people thought he was a spy. He was even brought before the famous French leader, Napoleon. Napoleon questioned him but then ordered his release. Years later, George wrote a book about this exciting meeting in 1826.

A Life in Politics

After his travels, George Sinclair returned to England. In 1811, he followed in his father's footsteps and became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Caithness in Scotland. An MP is someone elected to represent their local area in the country's main law-making body, the House of Commons.

Starting in Parliament

George was part of the Whig political group, which believed in making changes to improve society. In his very first session in Parliament, he was asked to give a speech in response to the King's address. He quickly became known as a good speaker. He was re-elected to Parliament in 1818.

Fighting for Change

In the House of Commons, George became good friends with other important politicians like Joseph Hume and Sir Francis Burdett. He strongly supported several big ideas for change. He believed in "Catholic emancipation," which meant giving Roman Catholics the same rights as everyone else. He also strongly supported freeing slaves in the West Indies. He even spoke out against the government's spending on pensions, believing it was too much. While being an MP, George also found time to study chemistry, anatomy, and botany in Edinburgh. He was very interested in the troubles of Charles X of France, a king who had lost his throne, and met with him many times.

Important Decisions

George was elected again for Caithness-shire in 1831 and stayed in Parliament until 1841. He supported the Reform Bill of 1832, a law that made the voting system fairer. In the same year, he gained attention for refusing an invitation from King William IV to dine with him on a Sunday. This showed his strong personal beliefs. In 1835, he joined a new political group that had left the government.

Later Political Life

On December 21, 1835, George became the second Baronet after his father passed away. He became a Conservative and played an active role in politics, even though he later retired from Parliament in 1841. He was also chosen as the Rector of Marischal College (which is now part of Aberdeen University) from 1840 to 1841. He was a strong supporter of the Free Church of Scotland, a religious movement that wanted more independence for the church. George spent his final years quietly at Thurso Castle or in Torquay. He passed away in Edinburgh on October 23, 1868, and was buried in Thurso.

His Writings

Sir George Sinclair was a very active writer. He wrote many articles for newspapers and several pamphlets (small books on specific topics). His first work was called Travels in Germany, which described his trips to other countries. This book was printed only for private family and friends, and it's very rare today.

Some of his other publications included:

• Selections from the Correspondence carried on during recent Negotiations for the Adjustment of the Scottish Church Question, 1842.
• A Letter on the Church Question, 1843.
• Comme Charles X: an Essay on the Downfall of Louis-Philippe, 1848.
• Observations on the new Scottish Poor Law, 1849.
• Letters to the Protestants of Scotland, 1852.
• Miscellaneous Thoughts on Popery, Prelacy, and Presbyterianism, 1853.
• Two Hundred Years of Popery in France, 1853.
• Popery in the First Century, 1855.

Family Life

Sir George Sinclair married Lady Catherine Camilla Manners on May 1, 1816. They had three sons and three daughters. His oldest son, John George Tollemache Sinclair, later became the third Baronet and also served as an MP for Caithness. His eldest son, Dudley Sinclair, was involved in business ventures in New Zealand, including a logging and trading settlement.