John Sinclair (bishop)
John Sinclair (died April 1566) was an Ordinary Lord and later Lord President in the Court of Session. He performed the ceremony marrying Mary, Queen of Scots to Lord Darnley.
Family
He was the fourth son of
Career
Douglas writes: "Dr.John Sinclair, bred to the church, a man of great piety and learning, and for his extraordinary knowledge of our laws, was first appointed one of the Ordinary Lords of Session, then Lord President 'in his brother's place' [handwritten note in margin]. He was 'Dean of Restalrig near Edinburgh and was' [handwritten note in margin] afterwards preferred to the Bishoprick of Brechin".
Before December 1537 he was Prebendary of
Marriage of the Queen
As Dean of Restalrig, he had the honour of
Works
There is speculation as to whether the work entitled Sinclair's Practicks should be attributed to him or his brother Henry. There are two manuscript copies of this work preserved in the
Death
In April 1566 the Bishop of Brechin "was seized with fever", and died. In a long "Instrument" dealing with the disputed redemption of property, in favour of Robert Lawder of Popple, knight, dated 9 May 1573, Sir Robert is referred to specifically as "heir of Mr.John Sinclair, Dean of Restalrig".
References
- A System of Heraldry, by Alexander Nisbet, 1722 [1984 facsimile], vol.1, pps:119–120, vol.2, appendix, p. 165.
- The Baronage of Scotland, by Sir Robert Douglas, Edinburgh, 1774, p. 247 [1].
- An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice, by Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, Bt., re-edited, continued, and republished, Edinburgh, 1849, pps: 63–4.
- The Manuscripts of Colonel Mordaunt Hay of Duns Castle, et al., Historic Manuscripts Commission, Hereford, 1909, p. 67, no.183 – Papal Bull of 1542.
- The Protocol Book of Mr.Gilbert Grote 1552–1573, edited by William Angus, Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1914, p. 83, number 326.