List of provosts of Edinburgh

List of lords provost in Edinburgh City Chambers

The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Edinburgh is the convener of the City of Edinburgh Council. They are elected by the city council and serve not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. They are also ex officio the Lord-Lieutenant of Edinburgh. They are equivalent in many ways to the institution of Mayor that exists in many other countries.

While some of Scotland's local authorities elect a Provost, only the four main cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee) have a Lord Provost. In Edinburgh this position dates from 1667, when Charles II elevated the Provost to the status of Lord Provost, with the same rank and precedence as the Lord Mayor of London. The title of Lord Provost is enshrined in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

Current lord provost[edit]

In total, there have been 256 provosts and lord provosts.

The current lord provost is Robert Aldridge.

Past provosts of Edinburgh[edit]

The first named individual overseeing Edinburgh was William de Dederyk, in 1296, who is described as an alderman. The second named alderman is John Wigmer in 1344. This is followed by William Guppeld, 1362–1369, and Sir Adam Forrester of Corstorphine in 1373.^[1]

14th century[edit]

(1377) John de Quhitness (John of Whiteness) first use of the term "Provost" on 18 May 1377
(1378) Sir Adam Forrester (see above)
(1381) John de Camera (John of Chambers)
(1387) Andrew Yutson or Yichtson
(1392) John of Dalrymple

The following decade includes a period with mention only of Baillies.^{[clarification needed]}

15th century[edit]

(1403) Alexander Napier
(1408) John Rede
(1410-1411) Adam of Farnielee
(1413) Sir George of Lauder and Haltoun
(1419) Adam of Farnielee
(1422) John of Levingtoun (Livingston) (alderman not provost)
(1425) Thomas de Cranstoun
(1425) William of Liberton
(1427) George of Lauder
(1428) John of Livingston
(1429) William of Liberton
(1434) Sir Henry Preston of Craigmillar
(1435) John of Levingtoun
(1437) Alexander Napier of Merchiston
(1438 to 1445) Thomas of Cranstoun
(1445) Steven Hunter
(1446) Patrick Cockburn
(1449) Thomas de Cranstoun
(1451) George of Fala
(1453) Sir Alexander Napier of Merchiston
(1455) Thomas Oliphant
(1456) Sir Alexander Napier of Merchiston
(1462) Alexander Ker
(1466) George Bartraham
(1467) Robert Mure of Polkellie
(1469) Sir Alexander Napier of Merchiston
(1477) James Creichton of Ruthven or Rowan
(1481) William Bertraham, the first to receive a regular salary (£20 per year)
(1482) Sir John Murray of Touchadam
(1482) Patrick Barron, of Spittlefield
(1484) John Napier of Merchiston, eldest son of Sir Alexander Napier
(1485) Sir Jamie Swanney
(1486) Sir Patrick Barron, of Spittlefield
(1487) John Murray
(1487) Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord Hailes
(1488) Thomas Tod
(1490) Alexander Hepburne of Quhitsum
(1491) Sir Thomas Tod
(1492) Richard Lawson of High Riggs
(1492) Sir John Murray
(1493) Richard Lawson of High Riggs
(1494) Walter Barhaham
(1496) Sir Thomas Tod
(1498) Walter Barhaham or Bertraham
(1499) Sir Thomas Tod

16th century[edit]

(1500) Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth
(1501) George of Touris
(1502) Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth
(1504) Richard Lawson of High Riggs
(1505) Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth (killed at the Battle of Flodden)
(1513) George of Tours (inter-regnum)
(1513) Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus ("Bell the Cat")
(1514) Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home
(1514) David Melville
(1515) Sir Patrick Hamilton of Kingavill
(1516) David Melville
(1517) James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
(1519) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1520) Robert Logan of Coitfield, the first to have an armed guard
(1521) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1522) Allan Stewart
(1522) Adam Otterburn
(1523) Francis Bothwell
(1524) Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
(1525) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1527) Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
(1528) Adam Otterburn
(1532) James Lawson
(1535) Adam Otterburn
(1535) Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
(1537) Simon Preston
(1543) Sir Adam Otterburn
(1544) James Hamilton of Stenhouse^[2]
(1544) Simon Preston
(1546) George Henderson of Fordell
(1546) Sir Adam Otterburn
(1546) George Henderson
(1547) Sir Adam Otterburn
(1547) James Hamilton of Stenhouse
(1548) Alexander Ker of Dolphinton
(1549) Alexander Ker of Littledean
(1550) Francis Tennent of Mukraw
(1551) William Craik
(1554) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie (II)
(1555) Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar
(1557) George Seton, 7th Lord Seton
(1559) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie (II)
(1562) Thomas McCalzean (McCalyeane)
(1562) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie (II)
(1565) Sir Simon Preston of Craigmillar
(1569) Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange
(1570) James Macgill of Nesbit
(1571) Sir Andrew Ker of Ferniherst
(1571) Patrick Lord Lindesay of Byers
(1576) George Douglas of Parkhead
(1579) Archibald Stewart
(1579) Alexander Clerk of Balbirnie
(1584) James Stewart, Earl of Arran
(1586) William Little
(1587) Sir John Arnot of Birswick
(1591) William Little
(1592) Nicol Uddert
(1593) Alexander Home of North Berwick
(1597) Henry Nisbet of Dean
(1598) Alexander Seton, Lord Fyvie

17th century[edit]

(1608) Sir John Arnot
(1616) Sir William Nisbet of Dean
(1619) Alexander Clerk
(1620) David Aikinhead
(1622) Sir William Nisbet of Dean
(1623) Alexander Clerk of Stenton
(1625) David Aikinhead
(1630) Sir Alexander Clerk of Pittencrieff
(1634) Adam Hogg
(1637) Sir John Hay of Lands
(1638) Sir William Dick of Braid
(1640) Sir Alexander Clerk of Pittencrieff
(1643) Sir John Smith of Grothill
(1646) Sir Archibald Tod
(1648) Sir James Steuart, of Coltness
(1652) Sir Archibald Tod
(1654) Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall
(1658) Sir James Steuart, of Coltness
(1660) Sir Robert Murray
(1662) Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall, became the first Lord Provost in 1667

Lord Provosts of Edinburgh[edit]

(1667) Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall
(1673) James Currie
(1675) Sir William Binning of Wallyford
(1677) Francis Kinloch of Gilmerton
(1679) Sir James Dick of Prestonfield
(1681) Sir James Flemming
(1683) Sir George Drummond
(1685) Sir Thomas Kennedy of Kirkhill
(1687) Sir Magnus Prince
(1689) Sir John Hall of Dunglass
(1691) Sir Archibald Muir
(1692) Sir John Hall of Dunglass
(1694) Sir Robert Chieslie of Dalry
(1696) Sir Archibald Muir
(1698) Sir George Home of Kello

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ Grant's Old and New Edinburgh
^ Anderson pp 383-384
^ Marjoribanks, Roger (2014) "Edinburgh Portrait, Sir John Marjoribanks , Bart, MP (1763–1833)" The Book of the Edinburgh Club, Volume 10, Pp 151-156, ISBN 0-9517284-9-0
^ "The show's over for Mr Edinburgh". Scotsman.com. 5 May 2003.
^ "Ex-church minister is city's new Provost". Scotsman.com. 16 May 2007.
^ "Computer teacher elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh". Scotsman.com. 17 May 2012.
^ "SNP's Frank Ross named as new Lord Provost of Edinburgh". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
^ "Edinburgh appoints new Lord Provost". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

Sources[edit]

Anderson, John (1825). Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton. Edinburgh.

External links[edit]

[1] Grant's Old and New Edinburgh

[2] Anderson pp 383-384

[3] Marjoribanks, Roger (2014) "Edinburgh Portrait, Sir John Marjoribanks , Bart, MP (1763–1833)" The Book of the Edinburgh Club, Volume 10, Pp 151-156, ISBN 0-9517284-9-0

[4] "The show's over for Mr Edinburgh". Scotsman.com. 5 May 2003.

[5] "Ex-church minister is city's new Provost". Scotsman.com. 16 May 2007.

[6] "Computer teacher elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh". Scotsman.com. 17 May 2012.

[7] "SNP's Frank Ross named as new Lord Provost of Edinburgh". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 23 February 2022.

[8] "Edinburgh appoints new Lord Provost". www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

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