John Houston Sinclair (1871 – 17 August 1961) was the British Resident civil servant in Zanzibar and chief secretary to the Government of the Zanzibar Protectorate.
Early life and family
John Houston Sinclair was born in 1871, the son of William Houston Sinclair. He married Muriel Cockburn on 29 April 1902 and they had a daughter, Katherine Theodosia Sinclair (died 2001).
Career
Sinclair held various official posts in Zanzibar (1899-1924), rising to become British Resident and chief secretary to the Government of the Zanzibar Protectorate.
He played a pivotal role in the creation of Zanzibar Stone Town.
On his retirement as British Resident at Zanzibar, Sinclair was conferred with the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar (first class) by the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Later life
In later life, Sinclair lived in Tangier, Morocco. He died on 17 August 1961. His reminiscences of his life in England, Kenya, Zanzibar and Tangier, Senex Africanus in 177 pages, are held by Cambridge University Library and the Royal Commonwealth Society Library.
References
External links
1871 births
1961 deaths
British civil servants
1900s in Zanzibar
1910s in Zanzibar
Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Chief secretaries (British Empire) Resident ministers of the Sultanate of Zanzibar British expatriates in the Sultanate of Zanzibar