John Sinclair

John Sinclair (1827–1906) was an alderman and mayor of the Town of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.

Personal life John Sinclair was born at Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 8 December 1827,

John Sinclair married Jane Kelman in Brisbane on 11 August 1857. They had several children (most of whom died in infancy): John Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 10 May 1860, died 9 January 1863 Christine Swan Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 2 April 1862, died in Brisbane on 7 January 1863 Margaret Callander Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 18 December 1863 James Swan Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 12 August 1865 Jane Kelman Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 17 January 1867, died in Brisbane on 4 April 1867 Matilda Maria Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 21 February 1869, died in Brisbane on 4 May 1869

His wife Jane died in Brisbane on 11 February 1872. His son James died six months later; he drowned while droving cattle across Kyabra Creek at Euroongoola Station in Western Queensland on 27 February 1887 aged 21 years.

On 14 January 1888 in Brisbane, John Sinclair married again to Constance Isabel Georgina Geoghegan, the daughter of Thomas Geoghegan and Margaret Maria Hebden.

Business life In 1854 John Sinclair came to Brisbane as engineer on the steamer Boomerang, which brought to Brisbane the news of the fall of Sevastopol and of the Eureka Stockade. Later he settled in Brisbane and worked as an engineer. In 1868 he was appointed as manager of Queensland Iron Works, owned by Robert R. Smellie. He was such a success as a manager in expanding the business that he became a partner in 1872 The iron shipbuilding branch of the business was responsible for building the Louisa, a cargo steamer that was used for trade along the Brisbane River between Ipswich and Moreton Bay.

Public life John Sinclair was an alderman of the Brisbane Municipal Council for the ward of Kangaroo Point from 1871 until 1874 when he retired. In 1876 he was elected again as alderman. He was mayor of the Brisbane Municipal Council in 1880 and 1881 and then retired again in 1882. However, he was elected again as alderman in 1886 and 1887, after which he finally retired from the council.

He served on the following committees: