List of provosts of Dundee explained

Post:Lord Provost
Body:Dundee
Incumbent:Bill Campbell
Incumbentsince:20 May 2022
First:Alexander Mathewson (first recorded holder, though role existed before)
Insignia:City_of_Dundee_Coat_of_Arms.png
Appointer:Dundee City Council approved by the Monarch
Termlength:Elected by Dundee City Council at the start of each session, and upon a vacancy
Deputy:Kevin Cordell

The Lord Provost of Dundee is the chair and civic head of the Dundee City Council in Scotland. They are elected by the city council and serve not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead and Lord Lieutenant for the city. They are equivalent in many ways to the institution of Mayor that exists in other countries.

Each of the 32 Scottish local authorities elects a Provost, but it is only the four largest cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee that have a Lord Provost. This is enshrined in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

The Mediaeval burgh of Dundee was administered by officials known as "Bailies", Provosts and the office of "Constable of Dundee". The office of Provost as the single chief official of the burgh was not created until the 1480s.

List of provosts and lord provosts

Provosts

19th century

Lord Provosts

Political party
1890–1893Alexander Mathewson
1893–1896Sir James Low
1896–1899Henry McGrady
1899–1902William Hunter
1902–1905Charles Barrie
1905–1908William Longair
1908–1914Sir James Urquhart
1914–1920Sir William Don
1920–1923Sir Alexander Spence
1923–1929Sir William High
1929–1932George Anderson Johnston
1932–1935William Huntley Buist
1935–1940Sir John Phin
1940–1946Sir Garnet WilsonLiberal Party
1946–1949Archibald Powrie
1949John Campsie Adamson
1949–1952Richard Fenton
1952–1954William Black
1954–1960William HughesLabour
1960–1967Maurice McManus
1967–1970Alexander MacKenzie
1970–1973William K. Fitzgerald
1973–1975Thomas W. Moore
1975–1977Charles D.P. Farquhar
1977–1980Henry W.C. Vaughan
1980–1984James P. GowansLabour
1984–1992Thomas Mitchell
1992–1995Thomas M. McDonald
1995–1996Norman A. McGowan[1]
1996–1999Mervyn J. Rolfe
1999–2001Helen Wright[2]
2001–2012John Letford[3]
Independent
2012–2017Bob Duncan[4] SNP
2017–2022Ian Borthwick[5] Independent
2022–presentBill Campbell[6] SNP

Deputy lieutenants

A deputy lieutenant of Dundee is commissioned by the Lord Lieutenant of Dundee. Deputy lieutenants support the work of the lord-lieutenant. There can be several deputy lieutenants at any time, depending on the population of the county. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the lord-lieutenant, but they usually retire at age 75.

19th Century

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Norman A. McGowan (1926–2005), Lord Provost of Dundee (1995–1996), JP Art UK . 2022-04-04 . artuk.org . en.
  2. Web site: Helen W. Wright (b.1943), Lord Provost of Dundee (1999–2001) Art UK . 2022-04-04 . artuk.org . en.
  3. Web site: John Letford (b.1935), Lord Provost of Dundee (2001–2012) Art UK . 2022-04-04 . artuk.org . en.
  4. Web site: ROBERT DUNCAN - DUNDEE - LORD PROVOST CITY OF DUNDEE . 2022-04-04 . www.checkcompany.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Morkis . Stefan . Ian Borthwick to officially become Lord Provost on Monday . 2022-04-04 . The Courier . en-GB.
  6. Web site: Hamilton . Lindsey . Dundee's new Lord Provost and other top council posts revealed . 2022-05-20 . The Courier . en-GB.
  7. Web site: The Edinburgh Gazette Issue 10621. 9 November 1894. 28 July 2022.