List of provosts of Elgin

The Provost of Elgin was the head of the Elgin burgh council in Scotland. Provosts were elected by the council and served not only as the chairman of that body, but as a figurehead for the town.

Elgin Town Council ceased to exist in May 1975, its duties being taken over by Moray District Council and Grampian Regional Council.

Each of the 32 Scottish local authorities elects a convener or provost, but it is only the four main cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee that have a Lord Provost. This is enshrined in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

Elgin Town Council decided to call the royal burgh a city in the mid 19th century. The provost of a city is entitled to the title “lord provost”. However, Elgin’s claim to be a city was never ratified by either the Lord Lyon or the Convention of Royal Burghs. In spite of this the council retained the title of lord provost for their chief magistrate.

Provosts

1261 Thomas Wyseman
1272 Adam son of Stephen and Patrick Heroc
1330 Walter son of Ralph
1343 Walter son of Ralph
1488 James Douglas
1521–1525 David Douglas of Pittendreich
1529–1530 William Douglas
1538-1539 William Gaderer (or Gatherer)
1539-1540 John Young
1540-1542 William Gaderer
1542-1543 John Young
1543-1547 William Gaderer
1547-1548 St Giles
1548-1549 William Hay of Mayne
1549-1553 Alexander Innes
1553-1554 William Innes
1554-1557 Alexander Douglas
1557-1558 William Gaderar
1559-1561 Alexander Douglas
1565-1568 John Annand
1568-1569 Alexander Douglas
1569-1574 John Annand of Morristoun
1574-1575 Alexander Douglas
1575-1583 John Annand
1583-1584 Thomas Young
1584-1585 James Douglas of Shutting Acres
1585-1586 John Annand
1586-1587 James Douglas
1589-1594 John Annand
1594-1600 Alexander Seton, Lord Urquhart & Baron of Fyvie
1600-1601 James Douglas of Shutting Acres
1601-1607 Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline
1609-1610 James Douglas of Barflethills
1610-1611 Alexander Pringhill
1611-1612 James Rutherford
1612-1613 Alexander Pringhill
1613-1615 James Douglas of Barflethills
1615-1623 James Rutherford
1623-1631 Gavin Douglas of Shutting Acres
1631-1643 John Hay
1643-1645 Gavin Douglas of Morristoun
1645-1650 John Hay
1650-1653 John Douglas of Morristoun
1653-1655 John Hay
1655-1658 John Douglas of Morristoun
1658-1664 George Cumming of Lochtervandich
1664-1665 William Cumming of Banff
1665-1668 Thomas Calder
1668-1687 George Cumming of Lochtervandich
1688-1689 David Stewart
1689-1690 William Calder of Spynie
1690-1700 William King of Newmill
1700-1705 James, Lord Duffus
1705-1708 William Sutherland of Mostowie
1708-1711 William King of Newmill
1711-1714 George Innes of Inkinty
1714-1717 Sir Archibald Dunbar of Thunderton
1717-1720 Robert Innes MD
1720-1723 James Innes MD
1723-1726 Robert Innes MD
1726-1729 James Innes MD
1729-1731 James Anderson of Linkwood (d.1731)
1731-1734 James Innes MD
1734-1737 John Robertson MD
1737-1740 James Innes, MD
1740-1743 William Anderson of Linkwood
1743-1746 James Stephen, Merchant
1746-1749 John Duff Sr, Merchant
1749-1752 Alexander Brodie of Windyhills
1752-1755 James Robertson of Bishopmill
1755-1758 Alexander Brodie of Windyhills
1758-1761 James Robertson of Bishopmill
1761-1764 Alexander Brodie of Windyhills
1764-1767 James Robertson of Bishopmill
1767-1770 Alexander Brodie of Windyhills
1770-1771 Thomas Stephen, Merchant
1771-1774 John Duff, Merchant
1774-1775 Alexander Brodie of Windyhills
1775-1778 John Duff, Merchant
1778-1779 Alexander Brodie of Windyhills
1779-1782 John Duff, Merchant
1782-1785 George Brown, Linkwood
1785-1788 John Duff, Merchant
1788-1791 George Brown, Linkwood
1791-1792 John Duff, Merchant
1792-1795 Alexander Brander, Merchant
1795-1798 George Brown, Linkwood
1798-1799 Alexander Brander, Merchant
1799-1802 George Brown, Linkwood
1802-1803 Joseph King of Newmill
1803-1806 George Brown, Linkwood
1806-1809 Joseph King of Newmill
1809-1812 George Brown, Linkwood
1812-1815 George Fenton, Writer
1815-1816 George Brown, Linkwood
1816-1819 Colonel Francis William Grant, MP
1819-1820 Sir Archibald Dunbar of Northfield, Baronet
1820-1823 Alexander Innes, Merchant
1823-1826 Peter Nicholson, Merchant
1826-1829 Alexander Innes, Merchant
1829-1832 John Lawson, Jr, Banker
1832-1833 James Petrie, Merchant

This was the last election under the old system; the Reform Bill having come into operation at the election in November 1833.

1833-1835 William Gauldie, Merchant
1835-1839 John McKimmie, Merchant
1839-1840 Alexander Young, Banker
1840-1842 John McKimmie, Merchant
1842-1848 James Wilson
1848–1863 James Grant, solicitor
1863-1869 Alexander Russell, Publisher
1869-1875 Alexander Cameron of Mainhouse
1875-1881 William Culbard, Merchant
1881-1890 James Black, Publisher
1890-1896 William Law, Ironmonger
1896-1899 William Grant, Banker
1899-1905 John Young, Chemist
1905-1908 James Christie, Merchant
1908-1913 Charles Duff Wilson, Jeweller
1919-1925 William Ramsay of Longmorn
1925-1931 John Wittet
1931-1937 Robert Cumming Hamilton
1937-1940 Murdo Mackenzie
1940-1942 Charles Alexander Christie
1942-1949 Edward Stroud Harrison
1949-1952 John Brodie
1952-1955 Ronald Grant Fraser
1955-1961 William Batchen Munro
1961-1964 Isobel Ann Duncan
1964-1970 George Alexander Smith
1970-1971 George Edgar
1971-1975 Donald McLeman McIntosh

References

Mackintosh, Herbert B: Elgin Past and Present, Elgin, 1914