James St Clair
Encyclopedia
General The Hon. James St Clair (1688 – 30 November 1762), was a Scottish
soldier and Whig politician.
and three years later he was transferred to the colonelship of the Royal Regiment of Foot (later renamed as 1st (Royal) Regiment of Foot), which he held until his death.
He rose to Brigadier General
in 1739 and already after another two years to Major General
. St Clair became lieutenant-general in charge of the British forces in Flanders
in June 1745 and in the following year, he was sent with six thousand men to attack Quebec
. Because of delays, he sailed instead to capture the Breton port of Lorient
. He destroyed the French
fortifications near Quiberon
and then returned to England. In 1761, St Clair was finally advanced to a full general.
in 1722, sitting for Dysart Burghs until 1734. Two years later, he was elected for Sutherland
, which constituency he represented until 1747, when he was again returned for Dysart. He held the latter seat until 1754 and became then Member of Parliament
for Fife
until 1762. St Clair travelled as envoy to the courts of Turin
and Vienna
in 1748 and later acted as governor of County Cork
.
in 1750, he succeeded de jure
as Lord Sinclair
, but never assumed the title.
Around 1745, he married Janet Dalrymple, youngest daughter of Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet
and widow of Sir John Baird, 2nd Baronet
. Their marriage was childless. St Clair died in Dysart
in 1766 and was survived by his wife for four years. With his death the lordship became dormant until 1782, when it reverted to Charles St Clair, a first cousin of James Sinclair, 7th Lord Sinclair.
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...
soldier and Whig politician.
Background
St Clair was the second son of Henry St Clair, 10th Lord Sinclair and his wife Grizel Cockburn, daughter of Sir James Cockburn, 1st Baronet. As a child he received a commission into the 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Foot.Military career
St Clair became an ensign of 6th Regiment of Foot in 1694, however was set on halfpay in 1713. In the next year, he was admitted to the 3rd Foot Guards and was promoted to captain in 1714. He served as 2nd major of his regiment from 1722 and as 1st major from 1725, having been advanced to the rank of brevet colonel two years before. In 1734, St Clair was appointed to the command of the 22nd Regiment of FootCheshire Regiment
The Cheshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division.The regiment was created in 1881 as part of the Childers reforms by the linking of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire...
and three years later he was transferred to the colonelship of the Royal Regiment of Foot (later renamed as 1st (Royal) Regiment of Foot), which he held until his death.
He rose to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in 1739 and already after another two years to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. St Clair became lieutenant-general in charge of the British forces in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
in June 1745 and in the following year, he was sent with six thousand men to attack Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Because of delays, he sailed instead to capture the Breton port of Lorient
Raid on Lorient
The Raid on Lorient took place in September 1746 during the War of the Austrian Succession when British troops landed on the French coast with the intention of capturing the town of Lorient...
. He destroyed the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
fortifications near Quiberon
Quiberon
Quiberon is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.It is situated on the southern part of the Quiberon peninsula, the northern part being the commune of Saint-Pierre-Quiberon...
and then returned to England. In 1761, St Clair was finally advanced to a full general.
Political career
St Clair entered the British House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1722, sitting for Dysart Burghs until 1734. Two years later, he was elected for Sutherland
Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)
Sutherland was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It represented essentially the traditional county of Sutherland, electing one Member of Parliament...
, which constituency he represented until 1747, when he was again returned for Dysart. He held the latter seat until 1754 and became then Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Fife
Fife (UK Parliament constituency)
Fife was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1885, when it was divided into East Fife and West Fife....
until 1762. St Clair travelled as envoy to the courts of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1748 and later acted as governor of County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Personal life
In 1735, St Clair bought Rosslyn Castle, which was later later inherited by the male heirs of his sisters. On the death of his older brother John St ClairJohn St Clair, Master of Sinclair
John St Clair, Master of Sinclair was a Scottish noble and Tory politician.-Background:He was the older son of Henry St Clair, 10th Lord Sinclair and his wife Grizel Cockburn, eldest daughter of Sir James Cockburn, 1st Baronet...
in 1750, he succeeded de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
as Lord Sinclair
Lord Sinclair
Lord Sinclair is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1449 for William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney. In 1470, Lord Orkney surrendered the earldom in return for the earldom of Caithness. In 1477, Lord Caithness wished to disinherit his eldest son from his first marriage to Lady...
, but never assumed the title.
Around 1745, he married Janet Dalrymple, youngest daughter of Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet
Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet
Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, 1st Baronet was a Scottish and British politician, Lord Advocate of Scotland, and eventually Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland....
and widow of Sir John Baird, 2nd Baronet
Sir John Baird, 2nd Baronet
Sir John Baird of Newbyth, 2nd Baronet was a Scottish politician.He was the oldest son of Sir William Baird, 1st Baronet and his first wife Helen Gilmour, daughter of Sir John Gilmour. Baird entered the British House of Commons in 1715, sitting as a Member of Parliament for Edinburghshire until...
. Their marriage was childless. St Clair died in Dysart
Dysart
Dysart is a former town and royal burgh located on the south-east coast between Kirkcaldy and West Wemyss in Fife. The town is now considered to be a suburb of Kirkcaldy. Dysart was once part of a wider estate owned by the St Clair or Sinclair family...
in 1766 and was survived by his wife for four years. With his death the lordship became dormant until 1782, when it reverted to Charles St Clair, a first cousin of James Sinclair, 7th Lord Sinclair.