History of the Lieutenancy

From the 14th century, Scottish Kings appointed Lieutenants to cover specific territorial areas for short periods. Their purpose was to meet particular emergencies such as invasion or rebellion and the first authenticated appointment was Alexander Stewart, the “Wolf of Badenoch”, who was commissioned in 1371 to control the land north of the Moray Firth. Several Lieutenancies were revived in 1685 to deal with the rebellion against James VII but is was not until 1794 that a Royal Warrant ordered the development of volunteer forces for the defence of the country and permanent lieutenancies were established in the 33 counties.

The principal function of the Lieutenants was to encourage the formation of volunteer forces to protect the country in the French Revolutionary War. Forces raised in each county were led by a Lord-Lieutenant who was appointed by the Sovereign and who in turn appointed Deputy Lieutenants.After 1802 the Lord-Lieutenant was an ex officio member of the Police Committee and the Local Authority but the Local Government Act of 1889 abolished these functions and the role of lieutenancies gradually became more ceremonial.

 

The traditional links with the military have however been preserved through the association with the Armed Forces, the Territorial Army and other Reserve and Cadet Forces. Strong links have also been developed with the emergency services and a wide variety of voluntary organisations. However the principal role of the Lord-Lieutenant is as the personal representative of Her Majesty The Queenin the Lieutenancy area.

List of Lord-Lieutenants of Stirlingshire (1794-1975) and of Stirling and Falkirk (1975 to present):

1794-18 373rd Duke of Montrose
1837-1843 2nd Baron Abercromby
1843-1875 4th Duke of Montrose
1875-1885 7th Earl of Dunmore
1885-1926 5th Duke of Montrose
1926-1929 1st Viscount Younger
1929-1936 William Pullar
1936-1949 Sir George Stirling Bt
1949-1964 Sir Ian Bolton Bt
1964-1979 3rd Viscount Younger
1979-1983 General Frederick Graham
1983-2005 Sir James Stirling
2005-2017 Marjory McLachlan
2017-Alan Simpson