Andrew Sinclair

Sir Andrew Sinclair of Ravenscraig, in Denmark known as Anders Sincklar (Sinklar, Sinclar), til Ravenscraig og Sincklarsholm, born 1555, died 1625, was a Scotsman of noble birth, who became a Danish privy counsellor, envoy to England, colonel, and holder of extensive fiefs.

Sinclair was the third son of Henry, fifth Lord Sinclair, and Janet Lindsay, in his fathers first marriage. For a period he was brought up at the court of Henry I, Duke of Guise. It is assumed that Sinclair came to Denmark in connection with the marriage between King James VI and Anne of Denmark. He became hofjunker to Christian IV of Denmark in 1591, and in 1597 kammerjunker to the queen, Anne Catherine of Brandenburg. After his marriage 1600, Sinclair left the court, and became a fief-holder in Skåne. Sinclair fought in the Kalmar war as captain of a company of the King's regiment of foot, and participated in the Danish capture of Öland. After the Danish capture of Kalmar he became military governor of the city.

Christian IV aggressive policy towards Sweden was met with reluctance and skepticism in Skåne, since the province would be the first to feel the impact of war in case of hostilities. The King needed faithful supporters in the province, and hence Sinclair was made colonel of the Scanian Regiment in 1615, and became recipient of a number of land donations. The following year he was made one of a very limited number of knights of the Order of the Armed Arm. In 1617 Sinclair became a member of the privy council of the Danish realm; the King needed loyal followers in that august body, as its resistance towards his foreign policy was mounting. He was the King's confidential adviser in matters concerning Great Britain, utilizing his many friends and connections to Danish advantage, especially James VI, with whom he was in great favour. Sinclair was the Danish King's envoy in Britain a number of times between 1606 and 1621, managing to influence James VI into adopting a more pro-Danish, and less pro-Swedish, stance. At the same time Sinclair acted as the British King's emissary at the Danish court.

In 1600, Sinclair married Kirsten Eriksdatter Kaas, in a ceremony at the Royal Palace. She was maid of honour to the Queen, and of the Danish noble family af Sparre. They had three sons, and one daughter; Jakob (James) Sinclair (who also served James VI), Johanne Andersdatter Sinclair, Erik Sinclair, and Christian Sinclair. Sinclair had Gladsaxehus as a fief, 1600-1620; Gislöv from 1613; Landskrona 1619-1621, then exchanged against Hammershus. The King gave him Sandby in Göinge as allodial possession; in the vicinity he began to build Sinclairsholm, which, however, was not completed until after his death. He also held Kronovall until his death.