Fife (Parliament of Scotland constituency)

Before the Acts of Union 1707, the barons of the shire of Fife elected commissioners to represent them in the Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of the Estates. The number of commissioners was increased from two to four in 1690.

After 1708, Fife was represented by one Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons at Westminster.

List of shire commissioners 1593: Myreton of CamboJoseph Foster, Members of Parliament, Scotland (1882) p. 272. 1600: Kynynmound of Craigie HallFoster, p. 206. 1607, 1608, 1609: Sir Andrew Murray of BalvairdFoster, p. 263. Parliament or ConventionCommissioners1612 ParliamentSir David Carnegie of KinnairdFoster, p. 65.Sir John Learmonth of BalcomieFoster, p. 210.1617 ConventionSir John Wemyss of WemyssFoster, p. 356.Sir James Wemyss of BogieFoster, p. 355.1617 ParliamentSir William Sandilands of St MonansFoster, p. 303.1621 ParliamentDavid Beaton of BalfourRecords of the Parliaments of Scotland, 1621/6/7.John Leslie of NewtownFoster, p. 212.1625 ConventionSir James Learmonth of BalcomiePatrick Wardlaw of TorryFoster, p. 350.1630 ConventionRobert Forbes of RiresRPS, A1630/7/1.1633 ParliamentSir John Leslie of NewtownThomas Myreton of Cambo1639–41 ParliamentSir Thomas Myreton of CamboWilliam Rigg of AithernieRPS, 1639/8/31/3.1643–44 ConventionSir Michael Balfour of DenmilneRPS, 1643/6/1.Arthur Erskine of ScotscraigFoster, p. 125.Sir John Wemyss of Bogie (from 10 April 1644)RPS, 1644/1/82.1644–47 ParliamentDavid Bethune of CreichRPS, 1644/6/2.Sir John Aytoun of AytounFoster, p. 18.Arthur Erskine of Scotscraig (from 7 January 1645)Robert Meldrum of Burleigh (from 7 January 1645)RPS, 1645/1/2.David Bethune of Creich (from 26 November 1645)RPS, 1645/11/2.Sir John Wemyss of Bogie (from 26 November 1645)1648–51 ParliamentArthur Erskine of ScotscraigWilliam Scott of ArdrossFoster, p. 308.Sir James Halkett of Pitfirrane (from 4 January 1649)Foster, p. 167.RPS, 1649/1/2.George Hay of Naughton (from 7 March 1650)Foster, p. 175.David Wemyss of Fingask (from 7 March 1650)RPS, 1650/3/2. During the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, the sheriffdoms of Fife and Kinross were jointly represented by one Member of Parliament in the Protectorate Parliament at Westminster. After the Restoration, the Parliament of Scotland was again summoned to meet in Edinburgh. Parliament or ConventionCommissioners1661–63 ParliamentWilliam Scott of ArdrossSir Alexander Gibson of Durie (died 6 August 1661)Foster, p. 147.Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie (from 8 May 1662)RPS, 1662/5/2.G. E. C., The Complete Baronetage, vol. II (1902) p. 388.1665 ConventionSir Philip Anstruther of that IlkFoster, p. 15.Andrew Bruce of EarlshallFoster, p. 37.1667 Convention1669–74 ParliamentSir William Bruce of BalcaskieFoster, p. 41.Sir John Wemyss of Bogie1678 ConventionJohn Drummond of LundinRPS, 1678/6/3.Sir Philip Anstruther of that Ilk1681 ParliamentSir Charles Halkett of PitfirraneComplete Baronetage, vol. III (1903) p. 334.William Anstruther, younger, of that IlkFoster, p. 16.1685–86 ParliamentSir David Balfour of ForretFoster, p. 22.Sir Thomas Stewart of BalcaskieFoster, p. 333.Complete Baronetage, vol. IV (1904) pp. 323–324.1689 ConventionWilliam Anstruther, younger, of that IlkJohn Dempster of PitliverFoster, p. 95.1689–1702 ParliamentBy Act of Parliament 14 June 1690, the shire of Fife was allocated two additional Commissioners.RPS, 1690/4/60.Sir William Anstruther of that IlkSir John Dempster of PitliverJames Melville of HalhillFoster, p. 248.George Moncrieff of ReidieFoster, p. 253.John Bethune of Craigfoodie”Petition of the Shire of Fife, signed John Bethune of Craigfoodie” The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2022), A1700/10/32. Date accessed: 5 March 2022.“Petition of the Burgh of Crail, signed John Bethune of Craigfoodie” The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2022), A1700/10/41. Date accessed: 5 March 20221703–07 ParliamentHenry Balfour of DunbogFoster, p. 23.David Bethune of BalfourFoster, p. 27.Sir Patrick Murray of Pitdunnes (died in office)Foster, p. 271.John Bethune of Craigfoodie”Act anent supply, signed John Beaton of Craigfoodie” The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2022), 1704/7/69. Date accessed: 5 March 2022. Robert Douglas of Strathendrie (from 1703; died in office)Foster, p. 102.Sir Archibald Hope of Rankeillour (from 25 April 1706; died 10 October 1706)Foster, p. 184.Thomas Hope of RankeillourFoster, p. 188.Complete Baronetage, vol. II, p. 344.

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