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List of governors of Edinburgh Castle facts for kids

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Edinburgh Castle and Esplanade LCCN2017660374
Edinburgh Castle

The governor of Edinburgh Castle, also sometimes known as the Keeper or Captain, had overall control of the royal castle of Edinburgh, Scotland. The governor was usually assisted by a Deputy-Governor and a Constable, the latter being under the command of the Lord High Constable of Scotland.

The governor had lodgings within the castle, with a governor's house being built in 1742. Although the post was never formally abolished, governors ceased to be appointed after the death in 1876 of Henry Dundas, 3rd Viscount Melville.

The office was revived in 1936 as an honorary title for the General Officer Commanding of Scottish Command. However, since 2015, this is no longer the case, with General Officer, Scotland and Governor of Edinburgh Castle being two separate appointments.

Governors of Edinburgh Castle

1stEarlOfOrkney
George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney, Governor from 1714 to 1737
4thEarlOfLoudoun
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, Governor from 1763 to 1782
11thEarlOfEglinton
Archibald Montgomerie, 11th Earl of Eglinton, Governor from 1782 to 1796
  • After 1067 (d. 1121): Bartolf Leslie
  • 1107-?: Thomas de Cancia
  • 1153–1165: Geoffrey de Melville
  • 1165–1214: Reginald
  • 1171–1177: Rodbert
  • 1230–1231: Philip de Mowbray, Constable
  • 1251-?: Walter Comyn, Earl of Menteith (died 1258)
  • Dates unknown William, Constable
  • 1263-?: William de Lysuris
  • 1278–1292: William de Kinghorn
  • Dates unknown William Clerk

The castle was in English hands from 1291 to 1314, during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

  • 1291–1296: Sir Ralph Basset de Drayton, English governor
  • 1296–1298: Sir Walter de Huntercombe, English governor
  • 1298-?: Sir John de Kingston, English governor - Captain and Constable
  • 1300-?: William de Rue, English governor
  • 1310–1314: Sir Piers de Lombard, English governor (from Gascony)

Following the Castle's recapture by the Scots under Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray in 1314, it was slighted and unused until the English returned in 1333.

  • 1334-?: Sir John de Kingston, English governor
  • 1336-?: Sir John Strivelyne, English governor
  • 1337-?: Thomas Kynton, English captain and marshal, assassinated
  • 1340–1341: Sir Thomas de Rokeby, English governor

The castle was again recaptured by the Scots under Sir William Douglas in 1341.

Modern governors

Neil Ritchie
General Sir Neil Ritchie, Governor from 1945 to 1947
  • 1936–1937: General Sir Archibald Cameron of Lochiel
  • 1937–1940: General Sir Charles Grant
  • 1940–1941: Lieutenant-General Harold Carrington
  • 1941–1945: Lieutenant-General Andrew Thorne
  • 1945–1947: General Sir Neil Ritchie
  • 1947–1949: Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Christison
  • 1949–1952: Lieutenant-General Sir Gordon MacMillan
  • 1952–1955: Lieutenant-General Sir Colin Barber
  • 1955–1958: Lieutenant-General Sir Horatius Murray
  • 1958–1961: Lieutenant-General Sir George Collingwood
  • 1961–1964: Lieutenant-General Sir William Turner
  • 1964–1966: Lieutenant-General Sir George Gordon-Lennox
  • 1966–1969: Lieutenant-General Derek Lang
  • 1969–1972: Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Leask
  • 1972–1976: Lieutenant-General Sir Chandos Blair
  • 1976–1979: Lieutenant-General Sir David Scott-Barrett
  • 1979–1980: General Sir Michael Gow
  • 1980–1982: Lieutenant-General Sir David Young
  • 1982–1985: Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Boswell
  • 1985–1988 Lieutenant-General Sir Norman Arthur
  • 1988–1991: Lieutenant-General Sir John MacMillan
  • 1991–1993: Lieutenant-General Sir Peter Graham
  • 1993–1995: Major-General Michael Scott
  • 1995–1997: Major-General Jonathan Hall
  • 1997–2000: Major-General Mark Strudwick
  • 3 April 2000 – 17 November 2002: Major-General Robert Gordon
  • 18 November 2002 – 8 July 2004: Major-General Sir Nicholas Parker
  • 9 July 2004 – 21 January 2007: Major-General Euan Loudon
  • 22 January 2007 – 19 June 2009: Major-General David McDowall
  • 19 June 2009 – 25 October 2009: Major-General Andrew Mackay
  • 26 October 2009 – 4 January 2012: Major-General David Shaw
  • 4 January 2012 – 20 October 2015: Major-General Nick Eeles
  • 20 October 2015–June 2019: Major-General Michael Riddell-Webster
  • June 2019–present: Major-General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich
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List of governors of Edinburgh Castle Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.