List of Lords Provost of Edinburgh - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Provost of Edinburgh is the convener of the City of Edinburgh local authority. He is elected by the city council and serves not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. He is ex officio the Lord-Lieutenant of Edinburgh. He is equivalent in many ways to the institution of Mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

that exists in many other countries.

While some of Scotland's local authorities

Subdivisions of Scotland

For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as "councils"...

elect a Provost

Provost (civil)

A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...

, only the four main cities (Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

, Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

, Aberdeen and Dundee) have a Lord Provost

Lord Provost

A Lord Provost is the figurative and ceremonial head of one of the principal cities of Scotland. Four cities, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have the right to appoint a Lord Provost instead of a provost...

. In Edinburgh this position dates from 1667, when Charles II

Charles II of England

Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...

elevated the Provost to the status of Lord Provost, with the same rank and precedence as the Lord Mayor of London

Lord Mayor of London

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...

. The title of Lord Provost is enshrined in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994

Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994

The Local Government etc. Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government structure of 32 unitary authorities covering the whole of Scotland....

. The current Lord Provost is George Grubb

George Grubb

George D. W. Grubb is, since May 2007, the Lord Provost and ex officio Lord-Lieutenant of Edinburgh. He is also a Liberal Democrat councillor of the City of Edinburgh Council for Almond ward....

, Liberal Democrat councillor for Almond ward.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh is virtue officii Admiral of the Firth of Forth

Firth of Forth

The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...

, the Provost of Leith is Admiral of the port thereof.

Provosts of Edinburgh

(1376) John de Quhitnes
(1381) John de Chambers
(1387) Andrew Yutson
(1391) John de Dalrymple
(1392) John de Camera
(1408) John Rede
(1409) Adam de Farnylie
(1413) Sir George de Lawedre of Haltoun
George de Lawedre of Haltoun
Sir George de Lawedre of Haltoun was a Burgess and Provost of Edinburgh in the early 15th century.-Family:...
(1419) Adam de Farnylie
(1422) John de Levingtoun
(1425) Thomas de Cranstoun
(1425) William de Libbertoun
(1434) Sir Henry Preston of Craigmiller
(1435) John de Levingtoun
(1437) Alexander Napier
(1438) Thomas de Cranstoun
(1445) Steven Hunter
(1446) Patrick Cockburn
(1449) Thomas de Cranstoun
(1451) George de 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
(1481) Walter or William Bartraham
(1482) Sir John Murray of Tulchad
(1482) Patrick Barron of Spittlefield
(1484) John Napier of Merchiston
(1485) John Murray
(1486) Sir Patrick Barron of Spittlefield
(1487) John Murray
(1487) Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord of Hailes
(1488) Thomas Tod
(1490) Alexander Hepburne of Quhitsum
(1491) Sir Thomas Tod
(1492) Richard Lawson of High Riggs
(1494) Walter Barhaham
(1496) Sir Thomas Tod
(1498) Walter Barhaham
(1499) Sir Thomas Tod
(1500) Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth
Alexander Lauder of Blyth
Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth, Knt. was Provost of Edinburgh almost continually from 1500 to 1513. He was Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament, 1504–06, and an Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland. He appears to have been on terms of intimacy with the King, James IV, with whom he played cards...
(1501) George of Touris
(1502) Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth
Alexander Lauder of Blyth
Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth, Knt. was Provost of Edinburgh almost continually from 1500 to 1513. He was Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament, 1504–06, and an Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland. He appears to have been on terms of intimacy with the King, James IV, with whom he played cards...
(1504) Richard Lawson of High Riggs
(1505) Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth
Alexander Lauder of Blyth
Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth, Knt. was Provost of Edinburgh almost continually from 1500 to 1513. He was Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament, 1504–06, and an Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland. He appears to have been on terms of intimacy with the King, James IV, with whom he played cards...

(fell at the Battle of Flodden)
(1513) Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots...
(1514) Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home
Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home
Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home His mother was Nicholace Ker, a daughter of George Ker of Samuelston, his father the 2nd Lord Home. Alexander Home was found guilty of treason in 1516 and executed....
(1515) Sir Patrick Hamilton of Kingavill
(1516) David Melville
(1517) James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran and 2nd Lord Hamilton was a Scottish nobleman and first cousin of James IV of Scotland.-Biography:...
(1519) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
Sir Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie , also known as Greysteil, was a Scottish nobleman and courtier, who served as Treasurer of Scotland, and Provost of Edinburgh.-Rise:...
(1520) Robert Logan of Coitfield
(1521) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1522) Allan Stewart
(1522) Adam Otterburne
(1523) Francis Bothwell
(1524) Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell , A member of the council of Regency of the Kingdom of Scotland. Regent of the Isle of Arran and like his father before head of the clan Maxwell. A distinguished Scottish nobleman, politician, soldier and in 1513 Lord High Admiral...
(1525) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1527) Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell , A member of the council of Regency of the Kingdom of Scotland. Regent of the Isle of Arran and like his father before head of the clan Maxwell. A distinguished Scottish nobleman, politician, soldier and in 1513 Lord High Admiral...
(1528) Adam Otterburne
(1532) James Lawson
(1535) Adam Otterburne
(1535) Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell
Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell , A member of the council of Regency of the Kingdom of Scotland. Regent of the Isle of Arran and like his father before head of the clan Maxwell. A distinguished Scottish nobleman, politician, soldier and in 1513 Lord High Admiral...
(1537) Simon Preston
(1543) Sir Adam Otterburne
Adam Otterburn
Adam Otterburn of Auldhame and Reidhall was a Scottish lawyer and diplomat. He was king's advocate to James V of Scotland and secretary to Mary of Guise and Regent Arran.-Servant to James V:...
(1544) John Hamilton of Samuelston
(1544) Simon Preston
(1546) George Henderson of Fordell
(1546) Sir Adam Otterburne
(1546) George Henderson
(1547) Sir Adam Otterburne
(1547) John Hamilton of Samuelston
(1548) Alexander Ker of Dolphinton
(1549) Alexander Ker of Littledean
(1550) Francis Tennent of Mukraw
(1551) William Craik
(1555) Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar
(1554) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1557) George Seton, 7th Lord Seton
George Seton, 7th Lord Seton
George Seton V, 7th Lord Seton was a Lord of the Parliament of Scotland, Master of the Household of Mary, Queen of Scots and Provost of Edinburgh. He was the eldest son of George Seton, 6th Lord Seton and Elizabeth Hay, a daughter of John Hay, 3rd Lord Hay of Yester...
(1559) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1562) Thomas McCalyeane
(1562) Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
(1565) Sir Simon Preston of Craigmillar
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is situated south-east of the city centre, on a low hill to the south of the modern suburb of Craigmillar. It was begun in the late 14th century by the Preston family, feudal barons of Craigmillar, and extended through the...
(1569) Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange
William Kirkcaldy of Grange
Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange , Scottish politician and general, was the eldest son of Sir James Kirkcaldy of Grange , a member of an old Fife family...
(1570) James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour
James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour
Sir James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour was a Scottish politician. In 1561, he was on the Privy Council of Mary, Queen of Scots and was her Lord Clerk Register in charge of archives...
(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
James Stewart, Earl of Arran
Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran...
(1586) William Little
(1587) Sir John Arnot of Birswick
(1591) William Little
(1592) Nicol Uddert
(1593) Alexander Home of North Berwick
North Berwick
The Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the...
(1597) Henry Nisbet
(1598) Alexander Seton, Lord Fyvie
Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline
Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline was a Scottish lawyer, judge and politician. He was Lord President of the Court of Session from 1598 to 1604 and Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1604 to 1622....
(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 Pittencrief
(1634) David Aikinhead
(1637) Sir John Hay of Lands
(1638) Sir William Dick of Braid
(1640) Sir Alexander Clerk
(1643) Sir John Smith of Grothill
(1646) Sir Archibald Tod
(1648) Sir James Stewart of Coltness
(1652) Sir Archibald Tod
(1654) Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall
(1658) Sir James Steuart
(1660) Sir Robert Murray
(1662) Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall, became the first Lord Provost in 1667

Lord Provosts of Edinburgh

(1667) Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall
(1673) James Currie
(1675) Sir William Binning
(1677) Sir Francis Kinloch, Bt.
(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, 1st Bt.
(1691) Sir Archibald Muir
(1692) Sir John Hall of Dunglass, 1st Bt.
(1694) Sir Robert Chieslie of Dalry
(1696) Sir Archibald Muir
(1698) Sir George Home of Kello
(1700) Sir Patrick Johnston
(1702) Sir Hew Cunninghame of Bonnington
(1704) Sir Patrick Johnston
(1706) Sir Samuel McClellan
(1708) Sir Patrick Johnston
(1710) Adam Brown of Blackford
(1711) Sir Robert Blackwood of Pitreaves
1713–1714 George Warrender, of Lochend
Sir George Warrender, 1st Baronet
Sir George Warrender of Lochend, 1st Baronet was a Scottish merchant and politician.He was the son of George Warrender and Margaret Cunninghame...
(1715) John Campbell
(1717) William Neilson
(1719) John Campbell
(1721) John Wightman of Mauldslie
(1723) John Campbell
(1725) George Drummond
George Drummond
George Drummond was accountant-general of excise in Scotland and a local politician, elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh a number of times between 1725 and 1764....
(1727) Archibald Macauley
(1729) Patrick Lindsay
(1731) John Osburn
(1733) Patrick Lindsay
(1735) Alexander Wilson
(1737) Archibald Macauley
(1738) James Colquhoun
(1740) George Haliburton
(1742) John Coutts
(1744) Archibald Stewart
Archibald Stewart
Archibald Stewart was an Australian trade unionist and official.Stewart was born at Sebastopol to Scottish-born parents: miner John Stewart and Anne, née Erskine. His father worked as caretaker of the botanical gardens in Creswick and he took numerous jobs in his youth...
(1746) George Drummond
George Drummond
George Drummond was accountant-general of excise in Scotland and a local politician, elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh a number of times between 1725 and 1764....
(1748) Archibald Macauley
(1750) George Drummond
George Drummond
George Drummond was accountant-general of excise in Scotland and a local politician, elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh a number of times between 1725 and 1764....
1752 William Alexander
1754 George Drummond
George Drummond
George Drummond was accountant-general of excise in Scotland and a local politician, elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh a number of times between 1725 and 1764....
1756 Robert Montgomery
1758 George Drummond
George Drummond
George Drummond was accountant-general of excise in Scotland and a local politician, elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh a number of times between 1725 and 1764....
1760 George Lind
1762 George Drummond
George Drummond
George Drummond was accountant-general of excise in Scotland and a local politician, elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh a number of times between 1725 and 1764....
1764 James Stuart
1766 Gilbert Laurie
1768 Sir James Steuart
1770 John Dalrymple
1772 Gilbert Laurie
1774 James Stoddart
1776 Alexander Kincaid
1777 John Dalrymple
1778 Walter Hamilton
1780 David Steuart
1782 Robert Grieve
1784 Sir James Hunter Blair, 1st Baronet
Sir James Hunter Blair, 1st Baronet
Sir James Hunter Blair, 1st Baronet was a Scottish banker and politician.Born John Hunter, the son of an Ayr merchant, he became a banker in the banking company of Sir William Forbes, and acquired the estate of Robertland...
1788 Thomas Elder of Forneth
1790 Sir James Stirling of Larbert Bt
1794 Sir James Stirling of Larbert Bt
1798 Sir James Stirling of Larbert Bt
1800 Sir William Fettes
William Fettes
Sir William Fettes, 1st Baronet was a wealthy Scottish businessman and philanthropist, who left a bequest which led to the foundation of Fettes College, in Edinburgh.-Life:...

, Bt.
1802 Neil Macvicar
1804 Sir William Fettes
William Fettes
Sir William Fettes, 1st Baronet was a wealthy Scottish businessman and philanthropist, who left a bequest which led to the foundation of Fettes College, in Edinburgh.-Life:...

, Bt.
1808 Donald Smith
1808 William Coulter
1810 William Calder
1811 William Creech
William Creech
William Creech was a Scottish bookseller.For 40 years Creech was the chief publisher in Edinburgh. He published the first Edinburgh edition of Robert Burns' poems....
1814 Sir John Marjoribanks, Bt
1815 Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet
Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet
Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet of Edinburgh was Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh....
1817 Kincaid McKenzie
1819 John Manderston
1821 Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet
Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet
Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet of Edinburgh was Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh....
1823 Alexander Henderson of Press
1825 William Trotter
1827 Walter Brown
1829 William Allan of Glen
1831 John Learmonth of Dean
1833 Sir James Spitall
1837 Sir James Forrest of Comiston, Bt.
1843 Adam Black
Adam Black
Adam Black was a Scottish publisher, and founded the A & C Black publishing company.Black was born in Edinburgh, the son of a builder, and educated at the Royal High School. After serving as an apprentice to a bookseller in Edinburgh and London, he began business for himself in Edinburgh in 1808...
1848 Sir William Johnston of Kirkhill
1851 Duncan McLaren
Duncan McLaren
Duncan McLaren was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Edinburgh.Born in Renton, Scotland, Duncan McLaren was the youngest of ten children of John McLaren and Catherine McLellan. Apart from two years of schooling, was self taught. After school, he was apprenticed to a merchant in Dunbar...

(Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...

)
1854 Sir John Melville
1859 Francis Brown Douglas
1862 Charles Lawson of Borthwick Hall
1865 William Chambers of Glenormiston
William Chambers of Glenormiston
William Chambers of Glenormiston or William Chambers was a Scottish publisher and politician, the brother of Robert Chambers...
1869 William Law
1872 James Cowan
1874 Sir James Falshaw, Bt.
1877 Sir Thomas Jamieson Boyd
1882 Sir George Harrison
George Harrison (Lord Provost)
Sir George Harrison was Lord Provost of Edinburgh and an independent Liberal politician.Harrison was a merchant of Edinburgh. He was Lord Provost of the city for 1882 to 1885 and was responsible for the acquisition of Blackford Hill by the Corporation of Edinburgh. He was also particularly...
1885 Sir Thomas Clark, Bt.
1888 Sir John Boyd
1891 Sir James Alexander Russell
1894 Sir Andrew McDonald
1897 Sir Mitchell Mitchell Thomson
1900 Sir James Steel
1903 Sir Robert Cranston
Sir Robert Cranston
Robert Cranston was a Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1903 to 1906.In 1914 he set up the first Edinburgh Pals battalion; the 15th battalion Royal Scots. This was quickly followed by two further volunteer battalions; the 16th and 17th...
1906 Sir James Flickering Gibson
1909 Sir William Slater Brown
1912 Sir Robert Kirk Inches
1916 Sir John Lorne MacLeod
1919 John William Chesser
1921 Sir Thomas Hutchison, Bt.
1923 Sir William Lowrie Sleigh
1926 Sir Alexander Stevenson
1932 Sir William Johnston
1935 Sir Louis Stewart Gumley
1938 Sir Henry Steel
1941 Sir William Young Darling
1944 Sir John Ireland Falconer
1947 Sir Andrew Hunter Arbuthnot Murray
Andrew Hunter Arbuthnot Murray
Sir Andrew Hunter Arbuthnot Murray, OBE, was Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Scotland between 1947 and 1951, Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, and a Justice of the Peace....

(Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...

)
1951 Sir James Miller
1954 John Garnett Banks
1957 Sir Ian Anderson Johnston-Gilbert
1960 Sir John Greig Dunber
1963 Sir Duncan Mackay, Weatherstone
1966 Sir Herbert Archbold Brechin
1969 Sir James Wilson McKay
James Wilson McKay
Sir James Wilson McKay was a Scottish freemason....
1972 Jack Kane (Labour
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....

)
1975 John Miller
1977 Kenneth W Borthwick
1980 Thomas Morgan
1984 Dr John McKay (Labour
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....

)
1988 Eleanor T McLaughlin (Labour
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....

)
1992 Dr Norman Irons
Norman Irons
Dr Norman Irons was Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Scotland, between 1992 and 1996.He was the first, and so far only, Lord Provost of the city from the Scottish National Party . Although Councillor Irons was one of only two SNP representatives on the City Council at the time, these votes were crucial...

(Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....

)
1996 Eric Milligan (Labour
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....

)
2003 Lesley Hinds
Lesley Hinds
Lesley Hinds, born in Dundee, is a councillor and from 2003 to 2007 was Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Scotland.A teacher by profession, she was first elected to Edinburgh District Council as a member of the Scottish Labour Party to represent the Telford ward in 1984, later becoming leader of the...

(Labour
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....

)
2007 George Grubb
George Grubb
George D. W. Grubb is, since May 2007, the Lord Provost and ex officio Lord-Lieutenant of Edinburgh. He is also a Liberal Democrat councillor of the City of Edinburgh Council for Almond ward....

(Liberal Democrat)

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