Bailie
A bailie or baillie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where bailies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate (see bailiff). Modern bailies exist in Scottish local councils, with the position being a courtesy title and appointees often requested to provide support to the Lord Provost or Provost - the ceremonial and civic head of the council - in his various engagements.[1][2]
History
The name derives from Old French and used to be synonymous with Provost, with several officials holding this role often at the appointment of the Church.[3]
The jurisdiction of a bailie is called a bailiary (alt. bailiery).
The office of bailie was abolished in law in Scotland in 1975, and today the position of bailie is a courtesy title.[2]
Use
- Aberdeen City Council - appoints five bailies.[4]
- Dundee City Council - appoints five bailies.[5] The position was reintroduced in 2003.[2]
- Edinburgh City Council - appoints six bailies.[1] The position was reintroduced in the 2000s following the title falling into disuse after the 1975 reform of local government.[6]
- Glasgow City Council - appoints seventeen bailies.[7]
Notable Scottish bailies
- Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair, Bailie of Canna
- Mary Barbour, Glasgow Corporation's first woman Baillie (1924-1927)
- Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, Bailie of Inverie, Knoydart
- Dr George Coull FRSE, Bailie of Edinburgh
- Sir John Lauder, 1st Baronet, Bailie of Edinburgh
- Thomas Watt, Bailie to the Baron of Cartsburn, grandfather of James Watt
- Bailie William Landale, winner of the silver cup at the first open championship held at St Andrews Old Course in 1754, see Timeline of golf history (1353-1850)
- "Baillie Vass" - the Aberdeen Evening Express accidentally used a picture of Sir Alec Douglas-Home over a caption referring to a baillie called Vass. Private Eye then affected to believe that Home was an imposter.
Outwith government
Scottish barons often appointed a Bailie as their judicial officer.
See also
- Burgess (title)
- Deacon
- Glasgow Bailie, a type of salted herring, which is also sometimes known as a "Glasgow Magistrate"
- Bailie Nicol Jarvie, a brand of whisky named after a fictional character in Sir Walter Scott's novel Rob Roy
References
- 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- 1 2 3 http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/reports/reports/468-2003.pdf
- ↑ "Page not found". glasgow.gov.uk. Archived from the original on September 15, 2009.
- ↑ News Items
- ↑ "Support for the Lord Provost and Elected Members". dundeecity.gov.uk.
- ↑ "Bailie suits bill for elbowing out city defector Cardownie". scotsman.com.
- ↑ "Page not found". glasgow.gov.uk. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011.