James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness
Encyclopedia
James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness FRS
(16 August 1821 – 28 March 1881), styled Lord Berriedale from 1823 to 1855, was a Scottish
Liberal
politician, scientist and inventor.
Caithness was the son of Alexander Sinclair, 13th Earl of Caithness, and his wife Frances Harriet, daughter of the Very Reverend William Leigh, Dean of Hereford. He inherited the title in 1855 on the death of his father.
He was a Vice-Admiral of Caithness, tutor to Edward, Prince of Wales, (the future Edward VII) and was a Lord in Waiting to Queen Victoria - 1856-58, and 1859-66). Queen Victoria created him the 1st Baron Barrogill, in 1866, taking the Barony’s name from the Castle of Mey
which was then known as Barrogill Castle. This is a peerage of the United Kingdom which can only pass down the direct male line, and became extinct on the death of his son, George Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness
. (But see - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Caithness - which shows the continuation of the Title, with the present holder being subject to disciplinary proceedings in the House of Lords, 2010.) He sat as a Representative peer for Scotland in the House of Lords from 1858-66. He was elected a Scottish Representative Peer
in 1858, and served in the Liberal administrations
of Lord Palmerston
and Lord Russell
as a Lord-in-Waiting
(government whip in the House of Lords
) between 1859 and 1866. The latter year was when Caithness was created Baron Barrogill, of Barrogill Castle in the County of Caithness, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords. Between 1856 and 1881 he held the post of Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness.
He was also a respected scientist and inventor and was a Fellow of the Royal Society
. The short biography attached to his pencil portrait explains that he was an inventor of a steam carriage, (actually the modifier for safety reasons), the gravitating compass and a tape-loom. He was a great industrial improver, with great enthusiasm for modern machinery. He
introduced “steam” to Caithness by improving and making previous designs safer. First came
his “steam car” in 1860, followed by the steam plough which he used to create his new farm at
Philip Mains, Mey. He also invented an automatic rail-carriage-washer for the American market.
One of his most unexpected inventions was an artificial leg, with which he won a prize at the
French Exhibition in Paris in 1866. In 1877, he published “Lectures on Popular and Scientific
Subjects”.
In addition to residing at the Castle of Mey in Scotland, he also lived in a large stately home called Stagenhoe
in the village of St Paul's Walden
in the county of Hertfordshire. This would have been his main residence while tutoring the young Edward VII Prince of Wales
, sitting in the House of Lords
and attending Royal Society
meetings in London.
Lord Caithness married firstly Louisa Georgiana, daughter of Sir George Richard Philips, 2nd Baronet, in 1847. They had one son and one daughter. After her death in 1870 he married secondly Marie de Mariategui, daughter of José de Mariategui, in 1872, though they had no children. In 1879 she was created Duchess of Pomar by Pope Leo XIII
. Lord Caithness died in New York City
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
in March 1881, aged 59, and was succeeded in the earldom by his only son George
. The Countess of Caithness died in November 1895.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(16 August 1821 – 28 March 1881), styled Lord Berriedale from 1823 to 1855, was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician, scientist and inventor.
Caithness was the son of Alexander Sinclair, 13th Earl of Caithness, and his wife Frances Harriet, daughter of the Very Reverend William Leigh, Dean of Hereford. He inherited the title in 1855 on the death of his father.
He was a Vice-Admiral of Caithness, tutor to Edward, Prince of Wales, (the future Edward VII) and was a Lord in Waiting to Queen Victoria - 1856-58, and 1859-66). Queen Victoria created him the 1st Baron Barrogill, in 1866, taking the Barony’s name from 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:...
which was then known as Barrogill Castle. This is a peerage of the United Kingdom which can only pass down the direct male line, and became extinct on the death of his son, George Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness
George Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness
George Philips Alexander Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness, also known as Sir George Sinclair, the 13th Laird of Mey was a Scottish aristocrat.-Life:...
. (But see - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Caithness - which shows the continuation of the Title, with the present holder being subject to disciplinary proceedings in the House of Lords, 2010.) He sat as a Representative peer for Scotland in the House of Lords from 1858-66. He was elected a Scottish Representative Peer
Representative peer
In the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords...
in 1858, and served in the Liberal administrations
Liberal Government 1859-1866
After the fall of the second of Lord Derby's short-lived attempts at governments in 1859, Lord Palmerston returned to power, this time in alliance with his former rival Lord John Russell, in what is regarded as the first Liberal government. Palmerston remained as Prime Minister until his death in...
of Lord Palmerston
Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC , known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century...
and Lord Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
as a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
(government whip in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
) between 1859 and 1866. The latter year was when Caithness was created Baron Barrogill, of Barrogill Castle in the County of Caithness, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords. Between 1856 and 1881 he held the post of Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness.
He was also a respected scientist and inventor and was a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. The short biography attached to his pencil portrait explains that he was an inventor of a steam carriage, (actually the modifier for safety reasons), the gravitating compass and a tape-loom. He was a great industrial improver, with great enthusiasm for modern machinery. He
introduced “steam” to Caithness by improving and making previous designs safer. First came
his “steam car” in 1860, followed by the steam plough which he used to create his new farm at
Philip Mains, Mey. He also invented an automatic rail-carriage-washer for the American market.
One of his most unexpected inventions was an artificial leg, with which he won a prize at the
French Exhibition in Paris in 1866. In 1877, he published “Lectures on Popular and Scientific
Subjects”.
In addition to residing at the Castle of Mey in Scotland, he also lived in a large stately home called Stagenhoe
Stagenhoe
Stagenhoe is a Grade II listed stately home and surrounding gardens located in the village of St Paul's Walden in Hertfordshire. Stagenhoe was rebuilt in the 18th century, after a fire in about 1737. It is now used as a Sue Ryder Care nursing home....
in the village of St Paul's Walden
St Paul's Walden
St Paul's Walden is a village about five miles south of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. The civil parish of St Paul's Walden also includes the village of Whitwell...
in the county of Hertfordshire. This would have been his main residence while tutoring the young Edward VII Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, sitting in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and attending Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
meetings in London.
Lord Caithness married firstly Louisa Georgiana, daughter of Sir George Richard Philips, 2nd Baronet, in 1847. They had one son and one daughter. After her death in 1870 he married secondly Marie de Mariategui, daughter of José de Mariategui, in 1872, though they had no children. In 1879 she was created Duchess of Pomar by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. Lord Caithness died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
Fifth Avenue Hotel
The Fifth Avenue Hotel was a former luxury hotel located at 200 Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York from 1859 to 1908. It occupied the full Fifth Avenue frontage between 23rd Street and 24th Street, at the southwest corner of Madison Square in the borough of Manhattan.- Site and construction...
in March 1881, aged 59, and was succeeded in the earldom by his only son George
George Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness
George Philips Alexander Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness, also known as Sir George Sinclair, the 13th Laird of Mey was a Scottish aristocrat.-Life:...
. The Countess of Caithness died in November 1895.