James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness

James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness, FRS (16 August 1821 – 28 March 1881), styled Lord Berriedale from 1823 to 1855, was a Scottish Liberal politician, scientist and inventor.

This is a peerage of the United Kingdom which can only pass down the direct male line, and became extinct on the death of his son, George Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness.

The short biography attached to his pencil portrait explains that he was an inventor of a steam carriage, (actually the modifier for safety reasons), the gravitating compass and a tape-loom.

In addition to residing at the Castle of Mey in Scotland, he also lived in a large stately home called Stagenhoe in the village of St Paul's Walden in the county of Hertfordshire.

This would have been his main residence while tutoring the young Edward VII Prince of Wales, sitting in the House of Lords and attending Royal Society meetings in London.