List of Provosts of Montrose

The Provost of Montrose was the head of the Montrose 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 entire town. They were equivalent in many ways to the institution of mayor.

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.

Provosts

• c. 1419-? John Setoun
• c. 1430-? Alexander Cant
• c. 1431-? Patrick Barclay
• c. 1434-? David Rukby
• c. 1493-?, ?-1498-? Walter Ogilvy of Rynd
• c.1517-? Mr Thomas Erskine
• c. 1553-?, John Erskine, 5th of Dun
• c. 1567-? John Erskine, 5th of Dun
• c. 1596-1599-? Robert Lichtoun, fiar of Usan
• ? William Ramsay
• ? George Petrie
• c.1624-? John Tailyour
• 1627 James Scott, 2nd of Logie
• c. 1634-? Robert Keith of Powburn (Bradieston & Scotston)
• ? Robert Beattie
• ? Andrew Gray
• c. 1663-1668 Robert Tailyour of Borrowfield
• ? Robert Gardyne
• c.1673-?, Robert Rennald (Ronald) (I)
• 1677-1678, John Coutts of Fullarton
• c. 1681-? Robert Rennald (Ronald) (I)
• 1682-1684, John Coutts of Fullarton
• 1687-1688 John Coutts of Fullarton
• c.1690-1691 Robert Arbuthnott
• c.-1702- Robert Rennald (Ronald) (II)
• c.-1703 William Coutts
• c. 1704- Charles Ogilvie
• c.-1706-1707 Robert Turnbull
• c.. 1708- James Mudie of Arbikie
• 1710 James Scott, 5th of Logie
• bef. 1713 James Milne (Mill) of Balwyllo in Dun
• 1716-1717 Alexander Strachan of Tarrie
• 1722 James Scott, 5th of Logie
• Lt-col. Robert Reid
• 1727 James Coutts of Halgreenin Bervie
• 1731-1733, James Coutts of Halgreen in Bervie
• 1733-1735 David Skinner
• 1735-1737 John Coutts
• 1737-1739 James Coutts of Halgreen in Bervie
• 1739-1741 David Skinner, jun.
• 1741-1743 James Coutts of Halgreenin Bervie
• 1743-1746 David Skinner of Cononsyth
• 1746-1747 David Doig of Cookston
• 1747-1749 William Ross
• 1749-1751 David Doig of Cookston
• 1751-1753 George Ross
• 1753-1755 David Doig of Cookston
• 1757-1761 David Doig of Cookston
• 1761-1763 James Bisset
• 1763-1765 Thomas Christie
• 1765-1767 Alexander Christie
• 1767-1769 William Christie
• 1769-1771 Alexander Christie
• 1773-1775 Alexander Christie
• 1775-1777 James Bisset
• 1777-1779 James Low
• 1779-1781 Alexander Christie
• 1781-1783 Adam Glegg
• 1783-1785 Thomas Webster
• 1785-1787 Adam Glegg
• 1787-1789 Thomas Webster
• 1789-1791 Adam Glegg
• 1791-1793 Thomas Webster
• 1793-1795 Adam Glegg
• 1797-1799 James Lyall
• 1799-1801 James Paton
• 1801-1803 James Lyall
• 1803-1805 James Paton
• 1805-1807 Andrew Thom
• 1807-1808 James Paton
• 1808-1810, Patrick Craigie
• 1810- 1812 Andrew Thom
• 1812-1814 Patrick Craigie
• 1814-1816 Andrew Thom
• 1816-1818 Charles Barclay
• 1818-1820, James Burnes
• 1820-1822 William Gibson, M.D.
• 1822-1824 William Jamieson
• 1824-1825 James Burnes
• 1825-1827 William Jamieson
• 1827-1829 George Paton
• 1829-1830 William Jamieson
• 1830-1832 George Paton
• 1832-1835 John Barclay, jun.
• 1835-1839 George Crawford
• 1839-1842 William Sim
• 1842-1844 George Paton
• 1844-1847 William Jameson
• 1847-1850 David Mackie
• 1850-1852 James Calvert
• 1852-1855 David Mackie
• 1855-1856 George Hall
• 1856-1861 Thomas Napier
• 1861-1864 James Savege
• 1864-1869, William Mitchell
• 1869-1872 Robert Barclay of Inchbrayock
• 1872-1875 William Mitchell
• 1875-1878 John [Gardyne] Milne
• 1878-1881 James William Japp
• 1881-1884 David Lackie
• 1884-1887 John Reid
• 1887-1890 George Scott
• 1890-1891 George Watson Middleton
• 1891-1900 James Mitchell
• 1900-1906 William Fotheringham Melvin
• 1906-1909 Joseph Foreman, O.B.E.
• 1909-1912 Valentine Stone, M.D., F.R.C.S.E.
• 1912-1920 Alexander Thomson
• 1920-1925 Joseph Foreman
• 1925-1931 William Douglas Johnston, O.B.E.
• 1931-1934 Thomas Lyell
• 1934-1937 Hugh Hanton Soutar
• 1937-1943 Andrew Duff Todd
• 1943-1946 Andrew Wemyss Ritchie
• 1946-1950 William Coull
• 1950-1953 John Butchart
• 1953-1955 Joseph Calder Cameron
• 1955-1967 William Johnston

Madge Mitchell James Milne

References

• Records, sources & information about the Parish and Royal Burgh of Montrose