Great Seal of Scotland
Encyclopedia
The Great Seal of Scotland (Seala Mòr na h-Alba in Gaelic) allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually. Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix and impressed into a wax figure that is attached by cord or ribbon to documents that the monarch wishes to make official. The earliest seal impression, in the Treasury of Durham Cathedral
, is believed to be the Great Seal of Duncan II
and dates to 1094.
Strictly, the Great Seal of Scotland was abolished by the Act of Union 1707 which provided that "a Seal in Scotland after the Union be alwayes kept and made use of in all things relating to private Rights or Grants, which have usually passed the Great Seal of Scotland, and which only concern Offices, Grants, Commissions, and private Rights within that Kingdom".
Although referred to in the Scotland Act 1998
as "the seal appointed by the Treaty of Union to be kept and made use of in place of the Great Seal of Scotland", the seal is still commonly referred to as the Great Seal of Scotland.
Section 12 of the Treason Act 1708
, still in force today, makes it treason
in Scotland to counterfeit the seal.
The Design of the Great Seal is a responsibility of the Lord Lyon King of Arms
. The reverse of the seal shows the monarch on horseback, but is not changed from reign to reign—the current version is that engraved in 1911 for the accession of King George V
. The obverse is inscribed "ELIZABETH II D G BRITT REGNORVMQVE SVORVM CETER REGINA CONSORTIONIS POPULORUM PRINCEPS F D" and the figure on it is the same as on the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
.
The Great Seal is administered by the Keeper of the Great Seal, one of the Great Officers of State. From 1885 this office was held by the Secretary for Scotland, later the Secretary of State for Scotland
. It transferred in 1999 to the First Minister of Scotland
, whose place in the order of precedence in Scotland
is determined by his office as Keeper of the Great Seal. In practice the Seal is in the custody of the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, who has been appointed as Deputy Keeper.
The following are Keepers of the Great Seal, who served as Secretary for Scotland (1885–1926).
The following are Keepers of the Great Seal, who served as Secretary of State for Scotland
(1926–1999).
The office of the Keeper of the Great Seal was transferred on 6 May 1999, to the First Minister
, in accordance to the terms of section 45(7) of the Scotland Act 1998
.
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
, is believed to be the Great Seal of Duncan II
Duncan II of Scotland
Donnchad mac Maíl Coluim was king of Scots...
and dates to 1094.
Strictly, the Great Seal of Scotland was abolished by the Act of Union 1707 which provided that "a Seal in Scotland after the Union be alwayes kept and made use of in all things relating to private Rights or Grants, which have usually passed the Great Seal of Scotland, and which only concern Offices, Grants, Commissions, and private Rights within that Kingdom".
Although referred to in the Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998
The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament.The Act will be amended by the Scotland Bill 2011, if and when it receives royal assent.-History:...
as "the seal appointed by the Treaty of Union to be kept and made use of in place of the Great Seal of Scotland", the seal is still commonly referred to as the Great Seal of Scotland.
Section 12 of the Treason Act 1708
Treason Act 1708
The Treason Act 1708 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which harmonised the law of high treason between the former kingdoms of England and Scotland following their union as Great Britain in 1707. It came into effect on 1 July 1709. Some of it is still in force today...
, still in force today, makes it treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
in Scotland to counterfeit the seal.
The Design of the Great Seal is a responsibility of the Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
. The reverse of the seal shows the monarch on horseback, but is not changed from reign to reign—the current version is that engraved in 1911 for the accession of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. The obverse is inscribed "ELIZABETH II D G BRITT REGNORVMQVE SVORVM CETER REGINA CONSORTIONIS POPULORUM PRINCEPS F D" and the figure on it is the same as on the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
.
The Great Seal is administered by the Keeper of the Great Seal, one of the Great Officers of State. From 1885 this office was held by the Secretary for Scotland, later the Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
. It transferred in 1999 to the First Minister of Scotland
First Minister of Scotland
The First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy...
, whose place in the order of precedence in Scotland
Order of precedence in Scotland
The order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905. Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1952, 1958 and most recently in 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government....
is determined by his office as Keeper of the Great Seal. In practice the Seal is in the custody of the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, who has been appointed as Deputy Keeper.
List of Keepers of the Great Seal of Scotland prior to the Union
- 1389-96: Sir Alexander de Cockburn
- Date unknown (c. 1473): Alexander de Cockburn
- 1474–1483 [John Laing] [Bishop of Glasgow]
- 1514: Gavin DouglasGavin DouglasGavin Douglas was a Scottish bishop, makar and translator. Although he had an important political career, it is for his poetry that he is now chiefly remembered. His principal pioneering achievement was the Eneados, a full and faithful vernacular translation of the Aeneid of Virgil and the first...
, Bishop of DunkeldBishop of DunkeldThe Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Cormac... - 1525: Gavin Dunbar, Bishop of AberdeenBishop of AberdeenThe Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan...
- 1558: John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis
- 1657–1660: Samuel Disbrowe
- Date unknown: James BeatonJames BeatonDr. James Beaton was a Scottish church leader, the uncle of Dr. David Cardinal Beaton and the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland....
- Date unknown: Sir Adam Forrester
- Date unknown: Sir John ForresterJohn ForresterJohn Stuart Forrester was a British Labour Party politician.-Early life and education:Forrester was born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and was educated at Eastwood School, the City School of Commerce in Stoke-on-Trent, and Alsager teacher training college in Cheshire.-Early career:He spent three and...
- Date Unknown: John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis
- Date unknown: Sir Richard MaitlandRichard MaitlandSir Richard Maitland of Lethington and Thirlstane was a Senator of the College of Justice, an Ordinary Lord of Session from 1561 until 1584, and notable Scottish poet. He was served heir to his father, Sir William Maitland of Lethington, Haddingtonshire, and Thirlestane, Berwickshire, on 15...
List of Keepers of the Great Seal of Scotland since the Union
- 1708: Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun
- 1713: James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater, 1st Earl of SeafieldJames Ogilvy, 4th Earl of FindlaterJames Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater and 1st Earl of Seafield KT PC was a Scottish politician.Findlater was the son of James Ogilvy, 3rd Earl of Findlater, and Lady Anne Montgomerie. He was elected to the Faculty of Advocates in 1685, and was a Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland for...
- 1714: William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of AnnandaleWilliam Johnstone, 1st Marquess of AnnandaleWilliam Johnstone, 2nd Earl of Annandale and Hartfell, 1st Marquess of Annandale KT was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Hartfell and Henrietta Douglas...
- 1716: James Graham, 1st Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 1st Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 1st Duke and 4th Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish aristocratic statesman in the early eighteenth century....
- 1733: Archibald Campbell, 1st Earl of IslayArchibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, 1st Earl of Ilay was a Scottish nobleman, politician, lawyer, businessman and soldier...
- 1761: Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry, 2nd Duke of DoverCharles Douglas, 3rd Duke of QueensberryCharles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry, 2nd Duke of Dover, PC was a Scottish nobleman.The son of James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, 1st Duke of Dover, and Mary Boyle, daughter of Charles Boyle, 3rd Viscount Dungarvan, was a Privy Counsellor and Vice Admiral of Scotland.He took up the cause...
- 1763: James Murray, 2nd Duke of AthollJames Murray, 2nd Duke of AthollJames Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl KT PC , styled Marquess of Tullibardine between 1715 and 1746, was a Scottish peer.-Background:...
- 1764: Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of MarchmontHugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of MarchmontHugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont PC FRS , styled Lord Polwarth between 1724 and 1740, was a Scottish politician....
- 1794: Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of GordonAlexander Gordon, 4th Duke of GordonAlexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon KT , styled Marquess of Huntly until 1752, was a Scottish nobleman, described by Kaimes as the "greatest subject in Britain", and was also known as the Cock o' the North, the traditional epithet attached to the chief of the Gordon clan.-Early life:Alexander...
- 1806: James Maitland, 8th Earl of LauderdaleJames Maitland, 8th Earl of LauderdaleJames Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale KT PC was Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, and a representative peer for Scotland in the House of Lords.-Early years:...
- 1807: Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of GordonAlexander Gordon, 4th Duke of GordonAlexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon KT , styled Marquess of Huntly until 1752, was a Scottish nobleman, described by Kaimes as the "greatest subject in Britain", and was also known as the Cock o' the North, the traditional epithet attached to the chief of the Gordon clan.-Early life:Alexander...
- 1827: George William Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll
- 1828: George Gordon, 5th Duke of GordonGeorge Gordon, 5th Duke of GordonGeorge Gordon, 5th Duke of Gordon GCB, PC , styled Marquess of Huntly until 1827, was a Scottish nobleman, soldier and politician and the last of his illustrious line.-Early life:...
- 1830: George William Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll
- 1840: John Hamilton Dalrymple, 8th Earl of Stair
- 1841: John Douglas Edward Henry Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll
- 1846: John Hamilton Dalrymple, 8th Earl of Stair
- 1852: Dunbar James Douglas, 6th Earl of SelkirkDunbar James Douglas, 6th Earl of SelkirkDunbar James Douglas, 6th Earl of Selkirk FRS was a Scottish peer.-Biography:The son of Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk and Joan Wedderburn-Colville, he was born in London....
- 1853: Cospatrick Alexander Home, 11th Earl of Home
- 1858: Dunbar James Douglas, 6th Earl of SelkirkDunbar James Douglas, 6th Earl of SelkirkDunbar James Douglas, 6th Earl of Selkirk FRS was a Scottish peer.-Biography:The son of Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk and Joan Wedderburn-Colville, he was born in London....
The following are Keepers of the Great Seal, who served as Secretary for Scotland (1885–1926).
- 1885: Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond
- 1886: George Otto Trevelyan
- 1886: John William Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie
- 1886: Arthur BalfourArthur BalfourArthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
- 1887: Schomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian
- 1892: George Otto Trevelyan
- 1895: Alexander Hugh Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh
- 1903: Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount DunedinAndrew Murray, 1st Viscount DunedinAndrew Graham Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin GCVO, PC, QC was a Scottish politician and judge. He served as Secretary for Scotland between 1903 and 1905, as Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session between 1905 and 1913 and as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary between 1913 and...
- 1905: John Hope, 1st Marquess of LinlithgowJohn Hope, 1st Marquess of LinlithgowJohn Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC , also known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902, was a Scottish aristocrat, politician and colonial administrator. He is best known for his brief and controversial tenure as the...
- 1905: John Sinclair, 1st Baron PentlandJohn Sinclair, 1st Baron PentlandJohn Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland, GCSI, GCIE was a Scottish Liberal Party politician, soldier, peer, administrator and Privy Councillor who served as the Secretary of Scotland from 1905 to 1912 and the Governor of Madras from 1912 to 1919.Baron Pentland was born John Sinclair to Sir John...
- 1912: Thomas McKinnon WoodThomas McKinnon WoodThomas McKinnon Wood PC was a British Liberal politician. He was a member of H. H. Asquith's cabinet as Secretary for Scotland between 1912 and 1916 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between July and December 1916...
- 1916: Harold TennantHarold TennantHarold John "Jack" Tennant PC was a Scottish Liberal politician. He served as Secretary for Scotland under his brother-in-law H. H...
- 1916: Robert Munro, 1st Baron AlnessRobert Munro, 1st Baron AlnessRobert Munro, 1st Baron Alness GBE, PC, KC, DL was a Scottish lawyer, judge and Liberal politician. He served as Secretary for Scotland between 1916 and 1922 in David Lloyd George's coalition government and as Lord Justice Clerk between 1922 and 1933.-Background and education:Munro was born in...
- 1922: Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar
- 1924: William AdamsonWilliam AdamsonWilliam Adamson was a Scottish trade unionist and Labour politician. He was Leader of the Labour Party between 1917 and 1921 and served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1924 and between 1929 and 1931 in the first two Labour administrations headed by Ramsay MacDonald.-Background:Adamson was...
- 1926: Sir John Gilmour
The following are Keepers of the Great Seal, who served as Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
(1926–1999).
- 1926: Sir John Gilmour
- 1929: William AdamsonWilliam AdamsonWilliam Adamson was a Scottish trade unionist and Labour politician. He was Leader of the Labour Party between 1917 and 1921 and served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1924 and between 1929 and 1931 in the first two Labour administrations headed by Ramsay MacDonald.-Background:Adamson was...
- 1931: Sir Archibald SinclairArchibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount ThursoArchibald Henry Macdonald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso KT, CMG, PC , known as Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt between 1912 and 1952, and often as Archie Sinclair, was a British politician and leader of the Liberal Party....
- 1932: Sir Godfrey CollinsGodfrey CollinsSir Godfrey Pattison Collins KBE, CMG, PC was a Scottish Liberal Party politician.He entered the Royal Navy in 1888 and was a Midshipman, East Indian Station from 1890-1893...
- 1936: Walter Elliot
- 1938: John ColvilleJohn Colville, 1st Baron ClydesmuirDavid John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir PC GCIE was a Scottish Unionist politician, and industrialist...
- 1940: Ernest BrownErnest BrownAlfred Ernest Brown CH was a British politician who served as leader of the Liberal Nationals from 1940 until 1945.-Biography:...
- 1941: Thomas JohnstonThomas JohnstonThomas "Tom" Johnston CH was a prominent Scottish socialist and politician of the early 20th century, a member of the Labour Party, a Member of Parliament and government minister – usually with Cabinet responsibility for Scottish affairs.-Red Clydesider:Johnston, the son of a middle-class...
- 1945: Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of RoseberyHarry Primrose, 6th Earl of RoseberyAlbert Edward Harry Meyer Archibald Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery and 2nd Earl of Midlothian , known by his third name of Harry, was a UK politician who briefly served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1945...
- 1945: Joseph WestwoodJoseph WestwoodJoseph Westwood was a Scottish Labour politician.Educated at Buckhaven Higher Grade School, he worked as a draper's apprentice, messenger boy and miner...
- 1947: Arthur WoodburnArthur WoodburnArthur Woodburn was a Scottish Labour politician.Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at Heriot Watt College. Imprisoned as a conscientious objector during World War I, Woodburn worked in engineering and ironfounding administration, and was a lecturer and national secretary of the Scottish Labour...
- 1950: Hector McNeilHector McNeilHector McNeil PC was a Scottish Labour politician.McNeil was educated at Woodside School and the University of Glasgow, trained as an engineer and worked as a journalist on a Scottish national newspaper. He was a member of Glasgow Town Council 1932-8...
- 1951: James Stuart
- 1957: John Maclay
- 1962: Michael NobleMichael Noble, Baron GlenkinglasMichael Antony Cristobal Noble, Baron Glenkinglas PC was a Scottish Tory politician.Noble was the youngest son of Sir John Noble, 1st Baronet, and the grandson of Sir Andrew Noble, 1st Baronet, and was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford...
- 1964: William RossWilliam Ross, Baron Ross of MarnockWilliam 'Willie' Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock MBE was the longest serving Secretary of State for Scotland, holding office from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976, throughout the Prime Ministership of Harold Wilson....
- 1970: Gordon Campbell
- 1974: William Ross
- 1976: Bruce MillanBruce MillanBruce Millan is a Scottish Labour politician. He was born in Dundee and educated at the Harris Academy in that city.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Glasgow Craigton at the 1959 general election and served for that seat, and after its abolition for Glasgow Govan, until 1988...
- 1979: George YoungerGeorge Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of LeckieGeorge Kenneth Hotson Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie KT KCVO TD PC was a British politician and banker....
- 1986: Malcolm RifkindMalcolm RifkindSir Malcolm Leslie Rifkind KCMG QC MP is a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for Kensington. He served in various roles as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including Secretary of State for Scotland , Defence Secretary and...
- 1990: Ian LangIan LangIan Bruce Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton PC is a former British Conservative MP for Galloway from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale from 1983 to 1997....
- 1995: Michael ForsythMichael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of DrumleanMichael Bruce Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean PC, Kt is a British financier and politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Stirling from 1983 to 1997 and served in the cabinet of John Major as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1995 to 1997...
- 1997: Donald DewarDonald DewarDonald Campbell Dewar was a British politician who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament in Scotland from 1966-1970, and then again from 1978 until his death in 2000. He served in Tony Blair's cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997-1999 and was instrumental in the creation...
The office of the Keeper of the Great Seal was transferred on 6 May 1999, to the First Minister
First Minister of Scotland
The First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy...
, in accordance to the terms of section 45(7) of the Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998
The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament.The Act will be amended by the Scotland Bill 2011, if and when it receives royal assent.-History:...
.
- 1999: Donald DewarDonald DewarDonald Campbell Dewar was a British politician who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament in Scotland from 1966-1970, and then again from 1978 until his death in 2000. He served in Tony Blair's cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997-1999 and was instrumental in the creation...
- 2000: Henry McLeishHenry McLeishHenry Baird McLeish is a Scottish Labour Party politician, author and academic. Formerly a professional association football player, McLeish was the Member of Parliament for Central Fife from 1987 to 2001 and the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Fife from 1999 to 2003, during which...
- 2001: Jack McConnellJack McConnellJack Wilson McConnell, Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale is a British Labour life peer in the House of Lords. He was third First Minister of Scotland from 2001 to 2007, making him the longest serving First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament...
- 2007: Alex SalmondAlex SalmondAlexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...