The Right Honourable ''The Right Honourable'' ( abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The ter ...

Lord Provost of Edinburgh is the

convener The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...

of the City of Edinburgh local authority. 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 In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

that exists in many other countries. While some of

Scotland's Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to t ...

local authorities elect a Provost, only the four main cities (

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popu ...

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), a ...

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.

The current Lord Provost

In total, there have been 256 Provosts and Lord Provosts. The current Lord Provost is Robert Aldridge.

Past provosts of Edinburgh

The first named individual overseeing Edinburgh was William de Dederyk, in 1296, who is described as an

alderman An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members ...

. 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.

14th century

*(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.

15th century

16th century

17th century

Lord Provosts of Edinburgh

18th century

19th century

20th century

Philpot, Glyn Warren; Sir Thomas Hutchison, Lord Provost of Edinburgh (1921-1923); City of Edinburgh Council

21st century

*2003 Lesley Hinds ( Labour) *2007 George Grubb ( Liberal Democrat) *2012 Donald Wilson ( Labour) *2017 Frank Ross ( Scottish National Party) *2022 Robert Aldridge ( Liberal Democrat)

References

Notes

Sources

External links

{{Commonscat, Lord Provost of Edinburgh Politics of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Lord Provost of Government of Scotland Edinburgh-related lists