Historiographer Royal (Scotland) Explained

The Historiographer Royal is a member of the Royal household of Scotland. The office was created in 1681, and was in abeyance from 1709 until 1763 when it was revived for Principal William Robertson of the University of Edinburgh.

The post, which now has no formal responsibilities or salary, is appointed by the Sovereign by Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of Scotland.^[1]

The current office-holder is Christopher Smout, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of St Andrews.

Office Holders

Holders of the office ^[2] are:

• James Crawford DD: 11 Nov 1681
• William Turner DD: 30 Sep 1682
• James Fall: 16 Dec 1682
• Christopher Irving MD: 30 July 1686
• William Dunlop

31 Jan 1693

• Daniel Campbell: 1 April 1700
• David Crawford jr of Drumsoy: 5 Oct 1704
• David Sympsone

12 May 1708 – 4 July 1709Office vacant from 1709 until 1763

• Rev William Robertson DD: 6 Aug 1763
• John Gillies LLD: 15 Jun 1793
• George Brodie

5 Mar 1836

• John Hill Burton LLD: 29 Aug 1867
• William Forbes Skene DCL LLD: 14 Nov 1881
• David Masson LLD: 3 Mar 1893
• Peter Hume Brown

4 May 1908

• Sir Robert Sangster Rait CBE MA: 11 Jan 1919
• Robert Kerr Hannay LLD FRSE: 14 July 1930
• Henry William Meikle MA DLitt: 23 Sep 1940
• J. D. Mackie OBE MC LLD: 19 Sep 1958 – 1978
• Gordon Donaldson CBE: 1979–1993
• Christopher Smout CBE: 1993–

Notes and References

1. The Laws of Scotland: Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia, Vol. 7 "The Crown", para 845. However the appointment of Mackie in 1958 appears to have been by Royal Warrant rather than Letters Patent.
2. "Lists of Minor Offices", held in the Historical Search Room of the National Archives of Scotland