SINCLAIR, JAMES (1817-97) was born at Lybster, Caithness, Scotland. With his wife and children he came to New Zealand in the Agra (1852), and soon afterwards removed from Wellington to Nelson, where he opened a store. In 1852 he settled at Wairau, where he had built for himself the first wooden house. Sinclair soon became on friendly terms with the natives with whom he did business and for many years he acted as merchant and banker for runholders. He was generally regarded as the founder of Blenheim, which he represented in the Marlborough Provincial Council when it was still called Beaver (1860-62). He continued in the Council for Upper Wairau (1862-63) and for Lower Wairau (1864-65, and 1869-74). Sinclair was largely responsible for the separation of Marlborough from Nelson, and later for fixing the capital at Blenheim instead of Picton. He married (1850) Christina (d. 1895), daughter of John Sutherland. His death occurred on 9 Aug 1897.

Marlborough P.C. minutes; Cycl. NZ, v (p); Buick, Marlborough; Marlborough Express, 24 Dec 1895, 10 Aug 1897.

Reference: Volume 2, page 156

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