Janet Colquhoun ( kə-HOON; née Sinclair; also known as Lady Colquhoun of Luss; 17 April 1781 – 21 October 1846) was a British religious writer. She was a philanthropist who was involved with several good causes. She believed that the "fruits of faith will be evident in good work".
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Early life
Janet Sinclair was born in London, the second daughter of Sir John Sinclair, and his wife Sarah (d. 1785). Her mother was the only child and heir of Alexander Maitland of Stoke Newington. Her father was a member of Parliament for Caithness. She and her sister were brought up by her paternal grandmother at Thurso Castle. Sinclair became a Christian evangelist after being inspired by the abolitionist William Wilberforce.
Her name became Colquhoun when she married in 1799 Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, a Scottish aristocratic major, and she was happy that in 1816 he became an elder of the Scots church. She was not comfortable being a privileged aristocrat and found the prejudices of her social circle painful.
Philanthropist
Colquhoun was a philanthropist and she founded a small domestic college at her house where young girls could learn about cookery and needlework. Colquhoun's teaching were valued by the students at the college and this made a change from her experience when she had tried earlier to read the Bible to some of her own staff.