Lady Anne Barnard, née Lindsay (1750-1825), published a number of literary works. She was born on 8 December 1750, the eldest of the eleven children of James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres (1691-1768). During this period the family survived in reduced circumstances, due to the 4th Earl's Jacobite involvements. In 1770, Anne's sister Margaret Lindsay (1750-1814) had married the banker Alexander Fordyce (c 1729-1789), who was then at the height of his success. From 1781 the sisters lived together in London, and played hostess to leading figures of the day, including Pitt, Burke and Sheridan. Anne Lindsay was confidante and intermediary for Mrs Maria Anne Fitzherbert and George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales, whose secret marriage in December 1785 was subject to great controversy and was declared illegitimate. The Prince married Princess Caroline of Brunswick in April 1795.
Brigadier General Colin Lindsay (1755-1795) was the third son of James Lindsay. In 1771 he bought an ensigncy and embarked for America as a lieutentant. He was promoted by purchase to a company of grenadiers, where he served most of the American War, and saw action in St Lucia in 1779. Lindsay was major to the 2nd Battalion of the 73rd Regiment during the seige of Gibralter in 1782. When peace was declared he returned with the regiment and was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 46th. In March 1795 Colin Lindsay was invested with the chief command of Martinique. His defence of the island was severely hindered by heavy rains, and on 22 March 1795 Lindsay committed suicide.
In October 1793 Anne Lindsay married Andrew Barnard (d 1807), who became Colonial Secretary in the Cape of Good Hope. She became hostess to the governor of the new colony, and was commissioned by Dundas to keep a journal, which would serve as a report on the colony's potential value to Britain. In September 1812 Lady Margaret became the third wife of Sir James Bland Burges of Sussex. They had been childhood sweethearts (an attachment commemorated in a well-known song, 'Auld Robin Gray', by Anne Barnard). She died in December 1814 after a long period of ill health. Lady Anne Barnard died, aged seventy-four, at her home in London on 6 May 1825.
