SOCIETY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION: Charles Sinclair proposed member 18.5.1792 by John Horne Tooke 2nded John Frost. His first recorded attendance at a London Corresponding Society meeting was on 21.6.1792
GODWIN DIARY: 12.9.1794 S, sup with, This was most likely Charles Sinclair as his was the only name beginning with S appearing earlier in that day's entry
Charles Sinclair was an illegitimate nephew of Sir John Sinclair DNB 1754-1835. Parish register of Latheron Caithness 20.1.1769 George Sinclair son to Lybster had a child baptised got out of wedlock nam'd Charles witnessed by Jno Henderson and James Forbes in Lybster (on 27.1.1769 Mr Sinclair in Latheron had a child baptised got out of wedlock named Anna). Charles Sinclair's will PCC proved 14.1.1831 dated 28.3.1827 late of Teddington, now of Cumming St Pentonville, mentioned Herbert Evans heir at law of Sir Watkin Lewes, and Elizabeth Haddon widow of late Capt Haddon of 6th Inniskillen Dragoons and her son George Talbot Sinclair (who was baptised St Ann Soho 5.7.1824 son of Charles Sinclair & Elizabeth). See also my article 'William Godwin, the Reveleys and the Jenningses' in the Background Articles section of this website.
I am interested in the question of whether Sinclair was a government spy, a suspicion which also fell on Alexander Scott when the charges against them were dropped in Edinburgh in 1794. I am inclined to acquit them both given the lack of evidence. (Morning Post 12.10.1826) Guildhall 11.10.1826 Kings Bench action for slander by Rev Mr Jones, Fellow of St John's Cambridge against Col Hanbury of the Guards. Sinclair was called as a witness and stated that on 20.2.1825 he was in the London to Nottingham stage coach with Col Hanbury and Mr George Talbot. Cross-examined by Henry Brougham DNB 1778-1868 (counsel for Col Hanbury) he said he had only been examined as a witness once before, and that by the Common Serjeant,(Thomas Denman DNB 1779-1854) who was acting for the Rev Jones. The Lord Chief Justice (Charles Abbott DNB 1762-1832) wouldn't allow Brougham to ask Sinclair if he was breaking the Rules of the Kings Bench prison by travelling to Nottingham at that time. Brougham asked him about his role in the trial of Joseph Gerrald (DNB 1763-1796) and others in Edinburgh in 1794, Sinclair said "If you mean to say they were convicted by me or by my agency, you calumniate me in the most false manner". Sinclair said he had previously been employed as a private agent and received employment under Lord Shrewsbury, but had cause for resigning. George Talbot, nephew of Earl of Shrewsbury, also gave evidence. He had been an officer in the 19th Regiment, had never been in the Rules of the Bench, was a friend of Rev Jones and had reported Col Hanbury's words to him as a matter of jest. He had never heard Jones called the Larking Parson. Jones won £100 damages.
(A Charles Sinclair married Letitia Fozard at St George Han Sq December 1794. Laetitia Sinclair was mentioned in the will PCC 1799 of her brother Evelyn Fozard and the will PCC 1816 of her uncle James Fozard who left her money after the death of her mother Laetitia Fozard and encouraged the mother and daughter to live together. A Charles Sinclair died in Summers Town 13.12.1834)