William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Sinclair
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| Lord Sinclair | |
Lord Sinclair coat of arms
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| Predecessor | William Sinclair, 2nd Lord Sinclair |
| Successor | Henry Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair |
| Died | 1487 |
| Noble family | Clan Sinclair |
| Father | William Sinclair, 2nd Lord Sinclair |
| Mother | Elizabeth Douglas |
William Sinclair (died 1487) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was known as the 3rd Lord Sinclair. Sometimes, old records call him the 2nd Lord Sinclair. But many historians, like Roland Saint-Clair, say he was the 3rd. They count his great-grandfather, Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, as the first Lord Sinclair.
Early Life and Family Background
William Sinclair was the oldest son from his father's first marriage. His father was William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Douglas. She was the daughter of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas.
William's father reportedly decided not to pass on all his titles to William. Instead, he gave some important lands and titles to sons from his second marriage. For example, the Barony of Roslin went to his half-brother, Oliver Sinclair. The Earldom of Caithness went to another half-brother, also named William.
There are different ideas about why this happened. One idea is that William's father thought his first marriage was not proper. However, historians like Roland Sinclair disagree with this. Another idea is that William's mother was from the Clan Douglas. The Douglas family was often against the King, and William's father might not have wanted to be linked to them.
The most likely reason, according to Roland Saint-Clair, involves William himself. William had once imprisoned William Tulloch, who was the Bishop of Orkney. This event might have caused his father to lose the Earldom of Orkney title. This could have made his father unhappy with him.
However, it's also possible William was not fully disinherited. He still owned lands in Newburgh, Fife. These lands had belonged to his family for a long time.
Castles and Lands
William Sinclair, the 3rd Lord Sinclair, was known as "of Newburgh." He made an agreement with his half-brother, Oliver Sinclair. In this deal, William received several important lands. These included Cousland in Edinburgh, the barony of Dysart Castle, and lands like Ravenscraig, Dulbo, Carbary, and Wilstoun in Fife.
In return, William and his son Henry gave up their claims to the Barony of Roslin. Ravenscraig Castle became a very important home for the Lords Sinclair.
Family Life
William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair, married Lady Christian Leslie. She was the daughter of George Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes. They had several children together:
- Henry Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair: He was William's heir and took over the title after his father.
- Sir William Sinclair of Warsetter and Orkney.
- Elizabeth Sinclair: She married John Glendonwyn.
William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair, passed away around the year 1487.
