The provost of Peterhead was the head of the Peterhead burgh council in Scotland. Provosts were elected by the council and served not only as the chairman of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire town. They were equivalent in many ways to the institution of mayor. The council was abolished in 1975.
Each of the 32 Scottish local authorities elects a convener or provost, but it is only the four main cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee that have a lord provost. This is enshrined in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.
The Provost of Peterhead painted by Edward Burton after Sir John Watson-Gordon, is of Roderick Grey, the portrait now being in the Scottish National Gallery.
Provosts 1833–1834: George Arbuthnot of Invernettie, cotton manufacturer 1834–1843: Thomas Arbuthnot of Meethill, shipowner 1843–1857: Roderick Grey, WS, solicitor 1857–1860: Alexander Anderson, shipowner 1860–1885: William Alexander of Whitehill, solicitor/bank agent 1885–1888: John Henderson Will of Downiehills, fish curer 1888–1899: John Smith, manufacturer 1899–1918: William Hutchison Leask, commission agent and drifter owner 1918–1927: James Hutchison Catto, commission agent and herring exporter 1927–1930: James Milne, coal merchant 1930–1936: John B Dickie, timber merchant 1936–1940: Max J. L. Schultze, herring exporter 1940–1946: Robert S. Dingwall, gents outfitter 1946–1950: William McD. Gordon, cabinet maker 1950–1956: John A. Dickie, timber merchant 1956–1965: Robert Forman, company director, boat owner 1965–1971: Edward A. Duncan, grocer 1971–1975: Thomas L. Smith, headmaster
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