Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso

Robin Macdonald Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso, JP (24 December 1922 – 29 April 1995), was a Scottish landowner, businessman and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Sir Archie, his father

Sinclair was born in Kingston Vale,^[1] the eldest son of the Leader of the Liberal Party, Sir Archie Sinclair, the 1st Viscount Thurso and Marigold Forbes. He was educated at Eton College, New College, Oxford and Edinburgh University. He was Captain of Boats at Edinburgh University Boat Club from 1946–47, winning a Green in 1946, and a Blue in 1947. In 1952 he married Margaret Beaumont. They had two sons and one daughter. He succeeded his father to the title of Viscount Thurso in 1970. He was succeeded by his son John upon his death in 1995.^[2]

Professional career

Sinclair served in the RAF from 1941-46. He was a Flight Lieutenant in 684 Squadron, 540 Squadron and he commanded the Edinburgh University Air Squadron in 1946. He was founder and first Chairman of Caithness Glass Ltd. He was Chairman of Sinclair Family Trust Ltd, Lochdhu Hotels Ltd and Thurso Fisheries Ltd. He was Director of Stephens (Plastics) Ltd.^[3]

Political career

Sinclair was elected as a Liberal to Caithness County Council in 1949. In 1957 he was elected to Thurso Town Council. He served on both the county and town councils until 1961 and then again from 1965 until 1973. He was a member of the Scottish Liberal Party Executive.^[4] He was Liberal candidate for the East Aberdeenshire division at the 1966 General Election. The constituency had been safe Conservative in 1964 with the Liberals second. He managed to increase the Liberal vote and achieve a swing of 5.5%, however, the Conservative held onto the seat. He did not stand for parliament again.^[5]

Electoral record

General Election 1966: East Aberdeenshire^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Patrick Wolrige-Gordon	12,067	41.5	-6.5
	Liberal	Hon. Robin Macdonald Sinclair	8,034	27.6	+4.4
	Labour	Ian Stuart Davidson	6,422	22.1	-0.3
	SNP	Bruce Mavor Cockie	2,584	8.9	+1.8
Majority			4,033	13.9	-10.9
Turnout			29,107	68.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	-5.5

He was an active supporter of the Boys' Brigade.^[7] In 1959 he was appointed a Justice of the peace. In 1973 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Caithness.^[8]

Styles of address

• 1922-1952: Mr Robin M. Sinclair
• 1952-1959: The Honourable Robin M. Sinclair
• 1959-1970: The Honourable Robin M. Sinclair JP
• 1970-1995: The Right Honourable The Viscount Thurso JP^{[lower-alpha 1]}

1. Although The Viscount Thurso is the 5th Sinclair Baronet of Ulbster, by custom the post-nominal of Bt is omitted, since Peers of the Realm do not list subsidiary hereditary titles.

References

1. Liberal Crusader by Gerard de Groot
2. ‘THURSO’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 18 March 2015
3. ‘THURSO’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 18 March 2015
4. The Times House of Commons, 1966
5. British parliamentary election results 1950-1983, Craig, F.W.S.
6. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
7. Liberal Crusader by Gerard de Groot
8. ‘THURSO’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 18 March 2015