The provost of Peterhead was the head of the
Peterhead burgh
A burgh is an autonomous municipal corporation in Scotland and Northern England, usually a city, town, or toun in Scots. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burg ...
council in
Scotland
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 the ...
. 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
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 a ...
. The council was abolished in 1975.
Each of the 32
Scottish local authorities elects a convener or
provost, but it is only the four main cities,
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 popul ...
,
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 ...
,
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), and ...
and
Dundee
Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...
that have a
lord provost. This is enshrined in the
Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.
The ''Provost of Peterhead'' painted by Edward Burton after
Sir John Watson-Gordon, is of Roderick Grey, the portrait now being in the
Scottish National Gallery.
Provosts
*1833–1834:
George Arbuthnot of Invernettie, cotton manufacturer
*1834–1843:
Thomas Arbuthnot of Meethill, shipowner
*1843–1857:
Roderick Grey, WS, solicitor
*1857–1860:
Alexander Anderson Alexander Anderson may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Alexander Anderson (illustrator) (1775–1870), American illustrator
* Alexander Anderson (poet) (1845–1909), Scottish poet
* Alexander Anderson (cartoonist) (1920–2010), American car ...
, shipowner
*1860–1885:
William Alexander of Whitehill, solicitor/bank agent
*1885–1888:
John Henderson Will of Downiehills, fish curer
*1888–1899:
John Smith, manufacturer
*1899–1918:
William Hutchison Leask, commission agent and drifter owner
*1918–1927:
James Hutchison Catto, commission agent and herring exporter
*1927–1930:
James Milne,
coal merchant
*1930–1936:
John B Dickie, timber merchant
*1936–1940:
Max J. L. Schultze, herring exporter
*1940–1946:
Robert S. Dingwall, gents outfitter
*1946–1950:
William McD. Gordon, cabinet maker
*1950–1956:
John A. Dickie, timber merchant
*1956–1965:
Robert Forman, company director, boat owner
*1965–1971:
Edward A. Duncan, grocer
*1971–1975:
Thomas L. Smith
Thomas Long "Pegleg" Smith (October 10, 1801 – October 1866) was a mountain man who, serving as a guide for many early expeditions into the American Southwest, helped explore parts of present-day New Mexico. He is also known as a fur trapper, ...
, headmaster
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterhead, Provosts of
Politics of the county of Aberdeen
Lists of provosts of places in Scotland
Provosts