James Lindsay, 5th Earl Of Balcarres

James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres (14 November 1691 – 20 February 1768), was a Scottish peer and military figure. He was the son of Colin Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Balcarres, and Lady Margaret Campbell, daughter of the Earl of Loudoun. He ascended to the earldom on 25 July 1736 following the death of his brother, Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Balcarres.

Lindsay began his military career in the Royal Navy at the age of 13. He joined the 70-gun ship of the line HMS Ipswich as a volunteer on 17 October 1705. He transferred to the HMS Bedford, another 70-gun ship, on 11 November 1706, serving until May 1707. On 18 June 1707, he joined the HMS Defiance, rated as an able seaman, and was promoted to midshipman on 19 December of that year. He transferred to the HMS Burford, a 70-gun ship, on 27 September 1708. He passed his examination for promotion to lieutenant on 14 April 1710 and received his commission on 17 May 1711. Subsequently, he served aboard the 24-gun frigate HMS Lizard and later as second lieutenant on the 54-gun fourth-rate vessel HMS Portland from 30 June 1712 until 31 October 1712, which marked the end of his naval service.

After returning to Scotland, Lindsay participated in the 1715 Jacobite rising, notably taking part in the Battle of Sheriffmuir. Following the uprising's suppression, he was concealed in a secret chamber at Newark Castle until secured a pardon through his aunt. In 1716, he was dismissed from the navy.

Subsequently, Lindsay joined the army of King George I. He served in the War of the Austrian Succession, participating in notable battles such as Dettingen in 1743 and Fontenoy in 1745. After his military service, he focused on estate management at Balcarres.

In his personal life, Lindsay married Anne Dalrymple on 24 October 1749 in Edinburgh. At the time, he was 58 years old; Anne was 22. She was the daughter of Sir Robert Dalrymple. Together, they had eleven children—eight sons and three daughters—including:

- Lady Anne Lindsay (1750–1825), poet and songwriter

- Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres (1752–1825), who inherited the title

- Lady Margaret Lindsay (1753–1814)

- Hon. Robert Lindsay (1754–1836)

- Hon. Colin Lindsay (1755–1795)

- Hon. James Stair Lindsay (1758–1783)

- Hon. William Lindsay (1759–1785)

- Rt. Rev. Hon. Charles Dalrymple Lindsay (1760–1846)

- Lt-Col. Hon. John Lindsay (1762–1826)

- Lady Elizabeth Lindsay (1763–1858)

- Hon. Hugh Lindsay (1765–1844)

Lady Balcarres was known to be a strict mother. An anecdote recorded by her descendant Lady Waterford describes her attempting to discipline her children severely, including an incident involving her son and the pond at Balcarres.

James Lindsay died on 20 February 1768 at the age of 76 in Balcarres, Fife, Scotland. He was interred there. His eldest son, Alexander Lindsay, succeeded him as the 6th Earl of Balcarres.

**Sources:**

- Cy Harrison, "Royal Navy Officers of the Seven Years War," Warwick, England: Helion, 2019.

- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

- The Balcarres history