A baillie or bailie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where baillies 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 formerly was 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 eliminated in law in Scotland in 1975 and today the position of bailie is a courtesy title.^[4]

Use

• Aberdeen City Council - appoints five bailies.^[5]
• Dundee City Council - appoints five bailies. ^[6] The position was reintroduced in 2003.^[7]
• Edinburgh City Council - appoints six bailies.^[8] The position was reintroduced in the 2000s following the title falling into disuse after the 1975 reform of local government.^[9]
• Glasgow City Council - appoints seventeen bailies.^[10]

Notable Scottish baillies

• 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
• 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" - a provincial newspaper, 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 Baillie as their judicial officer.

See also

• Burgess (title)
• Deacon, the old Scots equivalent of councillor^{[dubious – discuss]}
• Bailie of Holyroodhouse
• 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
• Bailie Marie Barclay, famous lady of the night in the 1920s

References

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