William St Clair of Roslin facts for kids
William St Clair of Roslin (1700-1778) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held the title of the 20th Baron of Roslin. This title was a Scottish feudal barony, which is different from a peerage (a title like Duke or Earl). He was part of a famous Scottish family called Clan Sinclair.
William St Clair loved sports. He was a very good golfer and also skilled at archery. He made a big change to the Old Course at St. Andrews, which is a very famous golf course. He redesigned it to have 18 holes. This change was so important that almost all golf courses around the world now have 18 holes! William was the son of Alexander St Clair, 19th Baron of Roslin.
William St Clair and Freemasonry
William St Clair was also a Scottish Freemason. Freemasonry is a social and charitable organization with a long history. Members often meet in lodges and focus on personal development and helping others.
William joined Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in 1736. Later that same year, he became the very first Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. This happened on St. Andrew's Day in 1736. Being the Grand Master Mason is like being the leader of all the Freemasons in Scotland.
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William St Clair of Roslin
