Background
Street Clair was the second son of Henry Street Clair, 10th Lord Sinclair and his wife Grizel Cockburn, daughter of Sir James Cockburn, 1st Baronet.
Street Clair was the second son of Henry Street Clair, 10th Lord Sinclair and his wife Grizel Cockburn, daughter of Sir James Cockburn, 1st Baronet.
General The Honorary
As a child he received a commission into the 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Foot. Street Clair became an ensign of 6th Regiment of Foot in 1694, however was set on halfpay in 1713. In the next year, he was admitted to the 3rd Foot Guards and was promoted to captain in 1714.
He served as 2nd major of his regiment from 1722 and as 1st major from 1725, having been advanced to the rank of brevet colonel two years before.
In 1734, Street Clair was appointed to the command of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and three years later he was transferred to the colonelship of the Royal Regiment of Foot (later renamed as 1st (Royal) Regiment of Foot), which he held until his death. He rose to brigadier general in 1739 and already after another two years to major general.
Street Clair became lieutenant-general in charge of the British forces in Flanders in June 1745 and in the following year, he was sent with six thousand men to attack Quebec. Because of delays, he sailed instead to capture the Breton port of Lorient.
He destroyed the French fortifications near Quiberon and then returned to England.
In 1761, Street Clair was finally advanced to the rank of full general. Street Clair entered the British House of Commons in 1722, sitting for Dysart Burghs until 1734. Two years later, he was elected for Sutherland, which constituency he represented until 1747, when he was again returned for Dysart.
Street Clair travelled as envoy to the courts of Turin and Vienna in 1748 and later acted as governor of County Cork.
Saint Clair, Minnesota is named after Saint Clair.
11th Parliament of Great Britain. 6th Parliament of Great Britain. 7th Parliament of Great Britain.
8th Parliament of Great Britain.
9th Parliament of Great Britain. 10th Parliament of Great Britain.
12th Parliament of Great Britain]
He held the latter seat until 1754 and became then member of Parliament for Fife until 1762.
