Scottish naval surgeon and naturalist who served on HMS Sulphur (1834-1839) under F.W. Beechey during the survey of the Pacific coasts of North and South America, until he was invalided home. Sinclair later served on a convict ship to Australia (1842) and reluctantly became Colonial Secretary of New Zealand (1844-1856). After retirement he returned to Britain, where he met C.R. Darwin and R. Owen. J.D. Hooker persuaded him to return to New Zealand to collect for him (1858) and his final expedition was with J.F.J. Haast, but he was drowned crossing the Rangitata river at the age of 67. The genus Sinclairia Hook. & Arn. was named after him, as were many species including Haastia sinclairii Hook. f. in the Asteraceae. Both zoological and botanical specimens were sent to BM from as early as 1823. Much original cryptogam material sent to K was later transferred to BM under the terms of the Morton Agreement after 1960.