Bailie

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title: "Bailie" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["scottish-titles", "political-office-holders-in-scotland", "local-government-in-scotland"] description: "Civic officer in the local government of Scotland" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailie" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Civic officer in the local government of Scotland ::

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). Baillies appointed the high constables in Edinburgh, Leith and Perth. Modern bailies exist in Scottish local councils, and the position being a courtesy title, appointees are often requested to provide support to the lord provost or provost - the ceremonial and civic head of the council - in their various engagements.

History

The name was derived from Old French and used to be synonymous with provost. Several officials held this role often at the appointment of the Church.

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.

Use

• Aberdeen City Council - appoints five bailies
• Dundee City Council - appoints five bailies The position was reintroduced in 2003.
• Edinburgh City Council - appoints six bailies The position was reintroduced in the 2000s following the title falling into disuse after the 1975 reform of local government.
• Glasgow City Council - appoints eighteen bailies
• Perth and Kinross Council - appoints five bailies
• Stirling Council - appoints four bailies
• West Dunbartonshire Council - revived the title in 2017 to appoint to veteran councillor Denis Agnew.

Notable Scottish bailies

As a title

• 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
• Sir James Steel, 1st Baronet (1829–1904), Bailie of Edinburgh from 1888 to 1900
• 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 "Baillie Vass" – the Aberdeen Evening Express accidentally used a picture of Alec Douglas-Home over a caption referring to a baillie called Vass. Private Eye then affected to believe that Home was an imposter.

As a surname

• Alexander Baillie – internationally recognised cellist, born 1956.
• Chris Baillie – Scottish hurdler
• Chris Baillie (politician) – New Zealand politician
• David Baillie – Writer, born in West Lothian, known for comicbook work such as 2000 AD and Red Thorn.
• Edmund J. Baillie – Welsh businessman, horticulturalist and activist
• Jackie Baillie – Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumbarton.
• Jim Baillie – Scottish footballer
• Thomas Baillie – Royal Navy officer known for a celebrated libel case.
• William Baillie – Irish print maker.
• James Bailie – American real estate developer of Scottish descent.

Outside of government

Scottish barons often appointed a Bailie as their judicial officer.

References

References

1. "Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh".
2. "APPOINTMENT OF BAILIES". Dundee City Council.
3. "Lord Provost and Bailies". glasgow.gov.uk.
4. (16 May 2007). "New Lord Provost and Depute Provost elected in Aberdeen".
5. "Support for the Lord Provost and Elected Members". dundeecity.gov.uk.
6. "Bailie suits bill for elbowing out city defector Cardownie". scotsman.com.
7. "Lord Provost". glasgow.gov.uk.
8. "Provost and Depute Provost of Perth and Kinross". pkc.gov.uk.
9. "Provost - general information".
10. Foulds, Jenny. (18 May 2017). "New West Dunbartonshire Council administration revealed". [[Daily Record (Scotland).
11. (23 September 2004). "Steel, Sir James, baronet (1829–1904)". Oxford University Press.

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