A baillie (alternative spelling bailie, from Old French) was a local civic officer in Scottish burghs, approximately equivalent to the post of alderman or magistrate (see bailiff) in other countries. They were responsible for a jurisdiction called a bailiary (alt. bailiery). Scottish barons often appointed a Baillie as their judicial officer.

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.

[edit] 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 1920's