Dean of the Thistle facts for kids
The Dean of the Thistle is an important role in Scotland. This job is part of the Order of the Thistle, which is a special group of knights and ladies. The position was brought back in 1687. Usually, a minister from the Church of Scotland holds this role. The Dean of the Thistle also works for the Royal Household in Scotland, which means they are part of the King or Queen's official staff.
For a while, the Dean of the Thistle also held another job called the Dean of the Chapel Royal. This second role was started again in 1886. It was joined with the Dean of the Thistle's job by a special order from the King or Queen. However, these two jobs were separated again in 1969.
People Who Have Been Dean of the Thistle
This is a list of the people who have held the important role of Dean of the Thistle over the years.
- 1763: John Jardine (1716-1766)
- 1767: Robert Hamilton
- 1787: George Hill
- 1791: Archibald Davison
- 1803: William Laurence Brown
- 1830: George Cook
- 1845: William Muir (1787-1869)
- 1869: Norman Macleod (1812-1872)
- 1872: John Macleod
- 1882: John Tulloch (1823-1886)
- 1886: James Cameron Lees (1834-1913)
- 1910-1926: Andrew Wallace Williamson (1856-1926)
- 1926-1969: Charles Laing Warr (1892-1969)
- 1969-1974: Dr Henry Charles Whitley (1906-1976)
- 1974-1989: Prof John McIntyre (1916-2005)
- 1989-2014: Gilleasbuig Iain Macmillan
- 2014–2019: The Very Rev Iain Torrance
- 2019-present: The Reverend Professor David Fergusson
