William St Clair, 15th Baron of Roslin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William St Clair
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| Baron of Roslin | |
Baron of Roslin coat of arms
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| Predecessor | William St Clair, 14th Baron of Roslin |
| Successor | William St Clair, 16th Baron of Roslin |
| Died | 1610 |
| Noble family | Clan Sinclair |
| Father | William St Clair |
| Mother | Lindeasy, daughter of the Laird of Egle |
William St Clair (died 1610) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held the title of the 15th Baron of Roslin.
Contents
Early Life of William St Clair
William St Clair was the second son of William St Clair, 14th Baron of Roslin. His mother was Lindeasy, who was the daughter of the Laird of Egle. The Laird of Egle was also the brother of the Earl of Crawford.
William St Clair as Baron of Roslin
William St Clair, the 15th Baron of Roslin, became the first Hereditary Grandmaster of the Scottish Order of Freemasons. This special role was given to him through an official document called a charter.
His older brother, Edward, gave him the lands and titles of Roslin and Herbertshire in 1582.
Building Roslin Castle
William St Clair made many improvements to Roslin Castle. He built large underground rooms called vaults. He also added spiral staircases, known as turnpikes. He worked on one of the arches of the castle's drawbridge. He also built the tower of the dungeon. His initials and the year 1596 can be seen on a stone, showing when the work on the castle was finished.
In 1601, he received an official document from Henry Saintcler. Henry was the Provost of Roslin, a type of church leader. This document gave William control over certain church lands.
William St Clair's Family
William St Clair married a woman named Jean or Janet Edmonstone. She was the daughter of a local landowner. Together, they had a son named William St Clair, 16th Baron of Roslin.
See also
