George Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness
Encyclopedia
George Philips Alexander Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness, also known as Sir George Sinclair, the 13th Laird of Mey (30 November 1858 –28 May 1889) was a Scottish aristocrat.
and his first wife Louisa Georgiana Philips. He was educated privately and at Magdalene College, Cambridge
. On 28 March 1881 he succeeded his father as Earl of Caithness
and 2nd Baron Barrogill. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Caithness
from 1881 until his death in 1889.
Suffering from epilepsy throughout his short life, his illness killed him at the age of 30. He died following an epiletic seizure at the Palace Hotel in Edinburgh
. He never married and so did not have any children. By his will, the 15th Earl bequeathed the Castle of Mey
and its lands and estates out of the hands of the Sinclairs leaving the future Earls of Caithness without a family seat. He left it all to his friend, Mr F. G. Heathcote on the condition that he took the name of Sinclair (which he did) and that he lived in the Castle for at least 3 months of each year (which he also did).
Life
George Sinclair was the eldest son of James Sinclair, 14th Earl of CaithnessJames Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness
James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness FRS , styled Lord Berriedale from 1823 to 1855, was a Scottish Liberal politician, scientist and inventor....
and his first wife Louisa Georgiana Philips. He was educated privately and at Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
. On 28 March 1881 he succeeded his father as Earl of Caithness
Earl of Caithness
Earl of Caithness is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and has a very complex history. Its first grant, in the modern sense as to have been counted in strict lists of peerages, is now generally held to have taken place in favor of Maol Íosa V, Earl of...
and 2nd Baron Barrogill. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Caithness
Lord Lieutenant of Caithness
The Lord Lieutenant of Caithness is the British monarch's personal representative in an area defined since 1975 as consisting of the local government district of Caithness, in Scotland. This definition was renewed by the Lord-Lieutenants Order 1996...
from 1881 until his death in 1889.
Suffering from epilepsy throughout his short life, his illness killed him at the age of 30. He died following an epiletic seizure at the Palace Hotel in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He never married and so did not have any children. By his will, the 15th Earl bequeathed the Castle of Mey
Castle of Mey
The Castle of Mey is located in Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland, about west of John o' Groats. In fine weather there are views from the castle north to the Orkney Islands.-History:...
and its lands and estates out of the hands of the Sinclairs leaving the future Earls of Caithness without a family seat. He left it all to his friend, Mr F. G. Heathcote on the condition that he took the name of Sinclair (which he did) and that he lived in the Castle for at least 3 months of each year (which he also did).
Sources
- Mosley, Charles (ed.), Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th Edition, Wilmington, Delaware, 2003, vol I, p. 645, ISBN 0-9711966-2-1
- The Peerage.com