John St Clair, Master of Sinclair
Encyclopedia
John St Clair, Master of Sinclair (5 December 1683 – 2 November 1750) was a Scottish
noble and Tory politician.
.
, but as a peer's eldest son, his election was declared void. Thereupon St Clair joined Preston's Regiment as a captain-lieutenant later in that year, however having killed two brothers in duels without seconds was forced to leave a short time after. Sentenced to death by a court martial, he was granted a reprieve by the regiment's commander John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
. St Clair came then in the service of King Frederick I of Prussia until being pardoned by Queen Anne of Great Britain in 1712.
In 1715, St Clair supported the Jacobite rising
and took part in the Battle of Sheriffmuir
in November of that year, for which he was attainted and excluded from succession to his father's lordship. He fled to Kirkwell Castle and therefrom to the continent. Pardoned by letters patent in 1726, St Clair returned to Scotland
and although an act of parliament
in 1736 relieved the forfeiture's terms, he never assumed his title.
. She died in 1747 and St Clair married secondly Amelia Murray, daughter of Lieutenant-General Lord George Murray
at Arnhall on 24 April 1750. Both his marriages were childless. St Clair died at Dysart
and, but for the forfeiture was succeeded in his title by his younger brother James
, a general in the British Army and Member of Parliament
for forty years.
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...
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. St Clair was educated at the University of FranekerUniversity of Franeker
The University of Franeker was a university in Franeker, Friesland, presently part of the Netherlands. It was the second oldest university of the Netherlands, founded shortly after Leiden University....
.
Career
In 1708, he stood for Dysart Burghs to 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...
, but as a peer's eldest son, his election was declared void. Thereupon St Clair joined Preston's Regiment as a captain-lieutenant later in that year, however having killed two brothers in duels without seconds was forced to leave a short time after. Sentenced to death by a court martial, he was granted a reprieve by the regiment's commander John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
. St Clair came then in the service of King Frederick I of Prussia until being pardoned by Queen Anne of Great Britain in 1712.
In 1715, St Clair supported the Jacobite rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
and took part in the Battle of Sheriffmuir
Battle of Sheriffmuir
The Battle of Sheriffmuir was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rebellion in England and Scotland.-History:John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, standard-bearer for the Jacobite cause in Scotland, mustered Highland chiefs, and on 6 September declared James Francis Edward Stuart as King...
in November of that year, for which he was attainted and excluded from succession to his father's lordship. He fled to Kirkwell Castle and therefrom to the continent. Pardoned by letters patent in 1726, St Clair returned to Scotland
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...
and although an act of parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in 1736 relieved the forfeiture's terms, he never assumed his title.
Family
On 16 August 1733, he married firstly Lady Margaret Stewart, daughter of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway and widow of James Carnegie, 5th Earl of SoutheskJames Carnegie, 5th Earl of Southesk
James Carnegie, 5th Earl of Southesk was a Scottish nobleman. He was attainted of the earldom in 1716....
. She died in 1747 and St Clair married secondly Amelia Murray, daughter of Lieutenant-General Lord George Murray
Lord George Murray (general)
Lord George Murray was a Scottish Jacobite general, most noted for his 1745 campaign under Bonnie Prince Charlie into England...
at Arnhall on 24 April 1750. Both his marriages were childless. St Clair died at 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...
and, but for the forfeiture was succeeded in his title by his younger brother James
James St Clair
General The Hon. James St Clair , was a Scottish 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...
, a general in the British Army and 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 forty years.