James Sandilands was born circa 1511 in Calder, West Lothian, Scotland, and died in 1596.[1][2] He was the second son of Sir James Sandilands, 7th Lord of Calder. The feudal barony of Calder had belonged to the Sandilands clan since 1348.
In December 1540 Sandilands was received into the Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, which by that time had its headquarters in Malta, and on 3 March 1541 was conferred with the ancientry of Torphichen (and later succeeded to the preceptorship in 1547 ~ See below).[For reference see: "The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland" ref Pages 180-201 'Calendar of Material relating to Scotland in the Archives of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem preserved in the National Library of Malta, Valetta, Malta']. The Commander or Prior of the Knights in Scotland was the Preceptor of Torphichen, at that time, Sir Walter Lindsay. Lindsay recommended Sandilands to the Grand Master of the Knights as a potential candidate to succeed him. Sandilands spent the next several years at the headquarters of the Knights at Malta, and validated Lindsay's recommendation. In 1541 he received from the Grand Master the ancianitas (right of expectancy) to the Preceptory and, following the death of Sir Walter Lindsay, succeeded him as Preceptor, authorized by a bull of 2 April 1547. He was invested with both the spirituality and temporality attendant to the position in June 1550.
Despite the religious turmoil of the time, the Knights Hospitaller had managed to retain possession of their benefices in Scotland. In 1553, Sandilands was sent to France by the Parliament of Scotland to present the proposed Treaty of Edinburgh to Mary, Queen of Scots, and obtain her acquiescence in termination of the alliance between France and Scotland. His mission was a failure.
On 24 January 1563, Sandilands appeared before Queen Mary at the behest of the Grand Preceptory, to surrender the lands and possessions of the Order, together with the title of Lord St. John, which he had held as Preceptor. The Queen accepted them and, showing her high regard for him, returned to him at a bargain price the lands of Torphichen, and conferred upon him the title of Lord Torphichen.
James Sandilands, Lord Torphichen, died in 1596.[1][2] , leaving no descendants. His title passed to the nearest of his designated heir: the grandson of his elder brother, also named James Sandilands (born 1574), then current feudal Baron of Calder, who thereby became the 2nd Lord Torphichen. Thereafter the two titles of feudal baron of Calder and lord Torphichen were conjoined, and inherited by the 2nd Lord Torphichen's successors up until the present day (15th Lord Torphichen).
The quotation in Note 4 is consistent with, and corroborates, the death date given in Notes 1 and 2.
[1] The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta]