Sir Archibald Gordon Kinloch, 7th Baronet

Sir Archibald Gordon Kinloch of Gilmerton (c. 1749 – 1800) was a Scottish baronet who, in one of the most celebrated cases in late 18th century Britain, murdered his elder brother, Sir Francis Kinloch, 6th baronet of Gilmerton. In the approach to the tragic events (and during the trial) he was known by his military title of Major Alexander Gordon Kinloch (close acquaintances call him Major Gordon). Through the greatest of ironies, due to the murder, Kinloch was thereafter entitled "Sir". Although the term is not used during his trial, it is one of the first recorded instances of Diminished responsibility due to mental instability. The case also set parameters for the use and validity of notes taken by witnesses in use as testimony.

He therefore became a baronet on 16 April 1795 the day of his victim's death. The entirety of his baronetcy was spent either in prison or under house arrest, neither being a barrier to his legal rights to the title of Baronet.

His trial included many prominent legal and medical persons of late 18th century Edinburgh society.

He was the son of Sir David Kinloch, 5th baronet of Gilmerton (1710–1795) (son of Sir Francis Kinloch, 3rd Baronet) and his wife Harriet Cockburn (d. 1757) daughter of Sir Archibald Cockburn, an advocate. His year of birth is unclear, but as the younger brother of Sir Francis Kinloch (b. 1747) is presumed to be around 1749.

He served as an Ensign in the 65th Regiment in Ireland in 1767 and there befriended the much older Major John MacKay who remained a lifelong friend. In 1773 he joined his regiment in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1778 he was a Captain in the 65th Regiment based in Coxheath, Nova Scotia. During this stay he befriended Lt (later Lt Col) Samuel Twentyman of the 18th Regiment. In the autumn of 1779 Archibald was promoted to Major, and Twentyman joined his regiment in sailing to the West Indies.

In 1779/1780 Archibald spent much time in St. Lucia in the West Indies and together with several thousand others (many of whom died) caught a fever (generally called St.Lucia Fever), after which his disposition changed greatly, to the concern of all his family. He is recorded (at an unclear date) of having been once confined to the Edinburgh Bedlam for insanity. His mood was said to worsen with alcohol. In 1783 Twentyman remet him in Lincoln and considered him much changed. Major MacKay met him in London in the same year and was of the same opinion. In 1785 MacKay met him again, also meeting his father Sir David Kinloch and ill-fated brother, Francis, all on a visit to a Mr and Mrs Dalrymple of North Berwick for an evening of whist.

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