Clan Chiefs

Sinclair History

The Sinclairs are of Norman origin, the first of the name being William de Sancto Claro, who received a grant of the barony of Roslin, Midlothian, in the 12th century. Sir Henry St. Clair of Roslin supported Robert the Bruce, and his son Sir William accompanied Sir James Douglas with the heart of Bruce and died fighting the Moors in Spain. Henry, son of Sir William Sinclair, obtained the Earldom of Orkney in 1379 through his father’s marriage with Isabella, Countess of Orkney. William, 3rd Earl, founded Roslin Chapel in 1446, and received the Earldom of Caithness in 1455. In 1470 the Earldom of Orkney which had previously been held from King Haco, was purchased from the Sinclairs by James III. The Earls of Caithness were engaged in a long succession of feuds with the Sutherlands, the Gunns, and other clans, and George, 6th Earl, being deeply in debt, granted a disposition of his title and estates to Sir John Campbell of Glanorchy. The Earl died without issue and Campbell took possession of the estates in 1676. His claim to the title was disputed by George Sinclair of Keiss. In a battle in 1680 the Sinclairs were defeated by the Campbells, but in 1681 George Sinclair’s claim to the title was established. The Earldom thereafter passed through several families of Sinclairs.
Roslin Castle today is a beautiful, if rather dilapidated, fortified house surrounded by the ruins of the former castle.
The many prominent families of Sinclairs include the Sinclairs of Ulbster. Sir John of Ulbster (1754-1835) was one of the foremost agriculturists of his time, a voluminous writer of poetical works, and editor of the first Statistical Account of Scotland. He lived at Thurso Castle.
The Castle of Mey, the Highland home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, is a former Sinclair stronghold built by George, 5th Earl of Caithness, in 1568.
The Sinclairs of Argyllshire and the West of Scotland, known as Clann na Cearda or craftsmen, do not appear to be connected with the Sinclairs of the North.