List of provosts of Aberdeen facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen is like the main leader of the Aberdeen City Council in Scotland. They are chosen by the city council members. Their job is to lead the council meetings and also to be an important person who represents the whole city. You can think of them as being similar to a mayor in many other countries.

In Scotland, each of the 32 local councils chooses a leader called a Convener or a Provost. But only the big cities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow have a special leader called a Lord Provost. The title "Lord Provost of Aberdeen" became official in 1863. This happened when Queen Victoria gave a special honour (knighted) to Sir Alexander Anderson, and called him 'Lord Provost of Aberdeen'. Before that, even though people sometimes used the title "Lord Provost," the correct name was just "Provost of Aberdeen."

Since 1899, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen has also had another important role. They are also the Lord-Lieutenant for the city. This means they act as the King's representative in Aberdeen. This arrangement was confirmed by laws in Scotland, including the Lieutenancies Act 1997.

Past Leaders of Aberdeen
Images for kids

Past Leaders of Aberdeen

For many centuries, leaders called Provosts (and later Lord Provosts) have guided Aberdeen. Here are some of the people who held this important role over time.

13th Century Leaders

(1272–1273) Richard Cementarius
(1273–1274) Mathew Greatheued
(1281–1282) Mathew Greatheued
(1284–1285) Malcolm de Pelgoueni

14th Century Leaders

(1309–1310) Duncan de Malauill
(1321–1322) Duncan Kynnedy
(1326–1329) Symon Gelchach
(1329–1332) William Strabrock
(1332–1333) Symon Gelchach
(1333–1335) William Strabrock
(1340–1341) Colin Adamson
(1341–1342) David Fyngask
(1343–1344) Thomas Mercer
(1348–1349) Symon Lynton
(1349–1351) Robert Edynhame
(1351–1356) William Leith
(1361–1363) Thomas Mercer
(1366–1367) Laurence Garvock
(1367–1368) Laurence de Foty
(1372–1374) William Leith
(1382–1383) Alexander Bannerman
(1383–1384) John Tulloh
(1385–1391) Laurence de Foty
(1391–1395) William de Camera
(1395–1396) William Andrewson
(1396–1399) William de Camera
(1399–1401) Adam de Benyn

15th Century Leaders

(1401–1404) Laurence de Leith
(1404–1405) William de Camera II
(1405–1409) Robert Davidson
(1409–1410) John Fichet
(1410–1411) Robert Davidson
(1411–1412) Andrew Giffard
(1412–1413) Thomas de Camera
(1413–1415) William Jackson
(1416–1417) Thomas Roull
(1419–1420) Thomas Giffard
(1420–1421) John Vaus
(1421–1423) William Kintore
(1423–1424) Gilbert Menzies
(1424–1425) William Kintore
(1425–1426) John Vaus
(1426–1428) Gilbert Menzies
(1428–1431) John Vaus
(1431–1435) Thomas de Camera
(1435–1436) John de Scroggs I
(1436–1437) John Vaus
(1437–1438) John de Fyfe
(1438–1439) Thomas de Camera
(1439–1440) Gilbert Menzies
(1440–1441) John de Fyfe
(1441–1442) Mathew Fichet
(1442–1443) John Marr
(1444–1444) Alexander de Camera
(1444–1446) John Vaus
(1446–1447) Alexander de Camera
(1447–1448) William Scherar
(1448–1449) John de Fyfe
(1449–1451) John de Scroggs II
(1451–1453) John de Fyfe
(1453–1454) John Marr
(1454–1455) Andrew Menzies
(1455–1456) John de Scroggs II
(1456–1458) John de Fyfe
(1458–1461) Richard Kintore
(1461–1462) Andrew Menzies
(1462–1467) Richard Kintore
(1467–1470) Alexander Chalmers
(1470–1471) Andrew Alanson
(1471–1472) Richard Kintore
(1472–1473) Andrew Scherar
(1473–1474) Andrew Alanson
(1474–1475) Alexander Chalmers
(1475–1476) Alexander Menzies
(1476–1477) Andrew Scherar
(1477–1478) Alexander Chalmers
(1478–1479) Andrew Scherar
(1479–1480) Alexander Chalmers
(1480–1481) Alexander Menzies
(1481–1482) James Leslie
(1482–1483) Robert Blinseile
(1483–1484) Sir John Rutherford
(1484–1485) Alexander Chalmers
(1485–1486) Sir John Rutherford
(1486–1487) Alexander Menzies
(1487–1488) Sir John Rutherford
(1488–1489) David Menzies
(1489–1491) Sir John Rutherford
(1491–1492) John Cullen
(1492–1493) Sir John Rutherford
(1493–1494) Alexander Reid
(1494–1495) David Menzies
(1495–1496) Alexander Chalmers
(1496–1501) Sir John Rutherford

16th Century Leaders

(1501–1504) Alexander Menzies
(1504–1505) John Leslie
(1505–1506) Gilbert Menzies of Findon
(1506–1507) Andrew Cullen
(1507–1514) Gilbert Menzies of Findon
(1514–1516) John Mar
(1516–1521) Gilbert Menzies of Findon
(1521–1522) John Collison
(1522–1525) Gilbert Menzies of Findon
(1525–1526) Thomas Menzies of Pitfoddels
(1526–1533) Gilbert Menzies of Findon
(1533–1535) Thomas Menzies
(1535–1536) Andrew Cullen of Pitfoddels
(1536–1537) Gilbert Menzies of Findon
(1537–1545) Thomas Menzies of Pitfoddels
(1545–1547) George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly
(1547–1576) Thomas Menzies of Pitfoddels
(1576–1588) Gilbert Menzies of Cowlie and Pitfoddles
(1588–1590) Thomas Menzies of Kirkhill and Durn
(1590–1591) Alexander Cullen
(1591–1592) Alexander Rutherford of Rubislaw
(1592–1593) Sir Thomas Menzies of Durn and Cults
(1593–1594) John Cheyne
(1594–1595) John Collison of Auchlunies
(1595–1596) Sir Thomas Menzies of Durn and Cults
(1596–1597) Alexander Rutherford
(1597–1598) Alexander Chalmers
(1598–1599) Alexander Rutherford
(1599–1600) Alexander Cullen

17th Century Leaders

(1600–1601) Alexander Rutherford
(1601–1602) Alexander Cullen
(1602–1603) Sir Thomas Menzies
(1603–1604) Alexander Rutherford
(1604–1605) David Menzies
(1605–1606) Alexander Rutherford
(1606–1607) Alexander Cullen
(1607–1608) Alexander Rutherford
(1608–1609) Alexander Cullen
(1609–1610) Alexander Rutherford
(1610–1611) Alexander Cullen
(1611–1615) Alexander Rutherford
(1615–1620) Sir Thomas Menzies
(1620–1622) David Rutherford
(1622–1623) George Nicholson
(1623–1634) Sir Paul Menzies
(1634–1635) Sir Patrick Leslie
(1635) Sir Paul Menzies
(1635) Robert Johnston
(1635–1637) Alexander Jaffray of Kingswells (b. 1584)
(1637–1638) Robert Johnston
(1638–1639) Alexander Jaffray of Kingswells (b. 1584)
(1639–1641) Sir Patrick Leslie
(1641–1642) Alexander Jaffray of Kingswells (b. 1584)
(1642–1644) Sir Patrick Leslie
(1644–1645) Sir Robert Farquhar
(1645–1647) Thomas Gray
(1647–1648) Sir Patrick Leslie
(1648–1649) Thomas Gray
(1649–1650) Alexander Jaffray (b. 1614)
(1650–1651) Sir Robert Farquhar
(1651–1652) Alexander Jaffray (b.1614)
(1652–1655) George Morison
(1655–1656) Thomas Gray
(1656–1657) George Cullen
(1657–1660) John Jaffray
(1660–1662) Gilbert Gray
(1662–1663) William Gray
(1663–1664) Gilbert Gray
(1664–1666) Robert Petrie
(1666–1667) Gilbert Gray
(1667–1671) Robert Petrie
(1671–1674) Robert Forbes
(1674–1675) Robert Petrie
(1676–1685) Sir George Skene
(1685–1688) George Leslie
(1688–1690) Alexander Gordon
(1690–1691) John Sandilands
(1691–1695) Walter Cochran
(1695–1697) Robert Cruickshank
(1697) John Johnston
(1697–1698) Alexander Walker
(1698–1700) Thomas Mitchell

18th Century Leaders

(1700–1702) John Allardes
(1702–1704) Thomas Mitchell
(1704–1705) Alexander Patton
(1705–1708) John Gordon
(1708–1710) John Allardes
(1710–1712) John Ross
(1712–1714) John Allardes
(1714–1715) Robert Stewart
(1715–1716) Patrick Bannerman
(1716) Robert Stewart
(1716–1718) John Gordon
(1718–1720) George Fordyce
(1720–1722) Robert Stewart
(1722–1724) George Fordyce
(1724–1726) Robert Stewart
(1726–1728) George Fordyce
(1728–1730) William Cruickshank
(1730–1732) James Morison Snr
(1732–1734) William Cruickshank
(1734–1736) Hugh Hay
(1736–1738) John Robertson of Pitmillan
(1738–1740) William Chalmers
(1740–1742) Alexander Robertson of Glasgowego
(1742–1744) Alexander Aberdein
(1744–1746) James Morison Jnr
(1746–1748) William Chalmers
(1748–1750) Alexander Robertson of Glasgowego
(1750–1752) Alexander Livingstone
(1752–1754) James Morison Jnr
(1754–1756) William Mowat
(1756–1758) Alexander Robertson of Glasgowego
(1758–1760) John Duncan
(1760–1762) William Davidson
(1762–1764) John Duncan
(1764–1766) George Shand
(1766–1768) John Duncan
(1768–1770) James Jopp
(1770–1772) George Shand
(1772–1774) James Jopp
(1774–1776) Adam Duff
(1776–1778) James Jopp
(1778–1780) William Young
(1780–1782) James Jopp
(1782–1784) William Young
(1784–1786) William Cruden
(1786–1787) James Jopp
(1787–1789) John Abercrombie
(1789–1791) William Cruden
(1791–1793) George Auldjo
(1793–1795) John Abercrombie Jnr
(1795–1797) George More
(1797–1799) Thomas Leys
(1799–1801) John Dingwall

19th Century Leaders

Sir Alexander Anderson of Blelack, Provost of Aberdeen (1859 - 1865) by Sir George Reid

(1801–1803) James Hadden
(1803–1805) Thomas Leys
(1805–1807) Alexander Brebner
(1807–1809) George More
(1809–1811) James Hadden
(1811–1813) James Young
(1813–1815) James Hadden
(1815–1817) Alexander Fraser
(1817–1818) Charles Forbes
(1818–1820) Alexander Brebner
(1820–1822) Gavin Hadden
(1822–1824) Alexander Brown
(1824–1826) Gavin Hadden
(1826–1828) Alexander Brown
(1828–1830) Gavin Hadden
(1830–1832) James Hadden
(1832–1833) Gavin Hadden
(1833–1836) James Blaikie
(1836–1839) James Milne
(1839–1847) Sir Thomas Blaikie
(1847–1850) George Thompson Jnr
(1850–1853) George Henry
(1853–1856) Sir Thomas Blaikie
(1856–1859) John Webster
(1859–1865) Sir Alexander Anderson (First Lord Provost of Aberdeen)
(1865–1869) Alexander Nicol
(1869–1874) William Leslie of Nethermuir
(1874–1880) George Jamieson (Liberal)
(1880–1883) Peter Esslemont (Liberal)
(1883–1886) James Matthews
(1886–1889) William Henderson (Liberal)
(1889–1895) David Stewart (Conservative)
(1895–1898) Daniel Mearns
(1898–1902) John Fleming (Liberal) (First Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeen)

20th Century Leaders

James Walker, by Sir George Reid

(1902–1905) James Walker of Richmondhill
(1905–1908) Sir Alexander Lyon
(1908–1911) Alexander Wilson
(1911–1914) Adam Maitland
(1914–1919) Sir James Taggart
(1919–1925) Sir William Meff
(1925–1929) Sir Andrew Jopp Williams Lewis
(1929–1932) James Reid Rust
(1932–1935) Sir Henry Alexander
(1935–1936) Edward William Watt
(1936–1947) Sir Thomas Mitchell
(1947–1951) Duncan Fraser (Labour)
(1951–1952) William Reid
(1952–1955) Reverend Professor John Graham (Labour)
(1955–1961) George Stephen
(1961–1964) Reverend Professor John Graham (Labour)
(1964–1967) Norman Hogg (Labour)
(1967–1970) Robert Lennox (Labour)
(1970–1971) James Lamond (Labour)
(1971–1975) John Farquharson Smith (Labour)
(1975–1977) Robert Lennox (Labour)
(1977–1980) William James Fraser (Labour)
(1980–1984) Alexander C Collie (Labour)
(1984–1988) Henry Rae (Labour)
(1988–1992) Robert Robertson (Labour)
(1992–1996) James Wyness (Labour)
(1996–1999) Margaret Farquhar (Labour) (First female Lord Provost of Aberdeen)
(1999–2003) Margaret Elizabeth Smith (Labour)

21st Century Leaders

(2003–2007) John Michael Reynolds (Liberal Democrats)
(2007–2012) Peter James Stephen (Liberal Democrats)
(2012–2017) George Adam (Labour)
(2017–2022) James 'Barney' Crockett (Labour)
(2022–present) Dr David Cameron (Scottish National Party) (First SNP Lord Provost of Aberdeen)

Images for kids

James Hadden of Persley, Provost of Aberdeen (1801-3, 1809-11, 1813-15, 1830-32)
Sir Thomas Blaikie, Provost of Aberdeen 1839-47, 1853-56 by John Phillip
James Blaikie of Craigiebuckler, Provost of Aberdeen (1833-1835)
Sir Alexander Anderson of Brelack, Provost of Aberdeen (1859-1865) by Sir George Reid
William Leslie of Nethermuir, Lord Provost of Aberdeen (1869-73( by Sir George Reid
Lord Provost Peter Esslemont (1834-1894) by Sir George Reid
Sir William Henderson, Lord Provost of Aberdeen (1886-89) by Sir George Reid
Sir James Taggart, KBE, Lord Provost of Aberdeen (1914-1919) by Ambrose McEvoy
James Walker of Richmondhill, Lord Provost of Aberdeen (1902-1905) by Sir George Reid
Sir William Meff, Lord Provost of Aberdeen (1919-1925)

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List of provosts of Aberdeen Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.