The Treasurer-depute was a senior post in the pre- Union government of

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. It was the equivalent of the English post of

Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and the head of HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, t ...

. Originally a deputy to the

Treasurer A treasurer is a person responsible for the financial operations of a government, business, or other organization. Government The treasury of a country is the department responsible for the country's economy, finance and revenue. The treasure ...

, the Treasurer-depute emerged as a separate Crown appointment by 1614. Its holder attended the Privy Council in the absence of the Treasurer, but gained independent membership of the Council in 1587 and sat in the

Parliament of Scotland In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

as a

Great Officer of State Government in medieval monarchies generally comprised the king's companions, later becoming the royal household, from which the officers of state arose. These officers initially had household and governmental duties. Later some of these offic ...

in 1593 and from 1617 onwards.

List of treasurers-depute

*1547 James Forrester *1584: Sir Robert Melville *1604–1610:

Sir John Arnot John Arnot of Birswick (Orkney) (1530–1616) was a 16th-century Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1587 to 1591 and from 1608 to death. He was Deputy Treasurer to King James VI. Career He was born ...

*1610–1621:

Gideon Murray Sir Gideon Murray of Elibank (died 1621), was a Scottish courtier and landowner, who served as Treasurer-Depute of Scotland. Family Gideon Murray was the third son of Sir Andrew Murray of Black Barony (died 1572), and Grisel Beaton, a daughter o ...

*1622–1631:

Archibald Napier, 1st Lord Napier Archibald Napier, 1st Lord Napier, the 9th Laird Napier of Merchiston (c. 1576 – November 1645), was a Scottish politician and judge. In 1627 he was created Lord Napier of Merchiston and Baronet of Nova Scotia. Biography Archibald Napier was t ...

*1631–?:

John Stewart, 1st Earl of Traquair John Stewart, 1st Earl of Traquair (died 27 March 1659) was a Scottish statesman who was created Baron Stewart of Traquair in 1628 and Earl of Traquair in 1633. Life He was the son of John Stewart, the Younger, of Traquair in Peeblesshire, ...

*1636-1649: Sir James Carmichael *1661–1671: William Bellenden, 1st Lord Bellenden *1671–1682?: Charles Maitland, Lord Haltoun *1682–1684: John Drummond *1684–1686?: John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore *1687–1689: Richard Maitland, Viscount Maitland *1690–1698:

Alexander Melville, Lord Raith Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are ...

*1699–1703:

Adam Cockburn of Ormiston Adam Cockburn, Laird of Ormiston, Lord Ormiston (1656 – 16 April 1735), was a Scottish administrator, politician and judge. He served as Commissioner for Haddington Constabulary in the parliaments of 1681-2 and 1689, and in the conventions ...

, Lord Ormiston *1703:

David Boyle, 1st Earl of Glasgow David Boyle, 1st Earl of Glasgow (c. 1666 – 31 October 1733) was a Scottish politician and peer. He was the last Treasurer-depute before the Union with England. Early life David Boyle was born circa 1666 at Kelburn Castle, Fairlie, in No ...

Lists of political office-holders in Scotland Political office-holders in Scotland Monarchy and money Scottish exchequer {{Scotland-gov-stub