The provost of Peterhead was the head of the Peterhead burgh council in Scotland. Provosts were elected by the council and served not only as the chairman of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire town. They were equivalent in many ways to the institution of mayor. The council was abolished in 1975.
Each of the 32 Scottish local authorities elects a convener or provost, but it is only the four main cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee that have a lord provost. This is enshrined in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.
The "Provost of Peterhead" painted by Edward Burton after Sir John Watson-Gordon, is of Roderick Grey, the portrait now being in the Scottish National Gallery.
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;