1769 in Scotland

Events from the year 1769 in Scotland.

Law officers

 * Lord Advocate – James Montgomery
 * Solicitor General for Scotland – Henry Dundas

Judiciary

 * Lord President of the Court of Session – Lord Arniston, the younger
 * Lord Justice General – Duke of Queensberry
 * Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Barskimming

Events

 * 29 April – James Watt is granted a British patent for "A method of lessening the consumption of steam in steam engines" – the separate condenser, a key improvement (first devised by Watt in 1765 in Glasgow) which stimulates the Industrial Revolution. In September he completes a full-size experimental engine at Kinneil House.
 * July 17 – Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant, having left Chester on 26 June, travels from Bamburgh to Dunbar to begin his tour of Scotland.
 * 3 August – part of the first North Bridge, Edinburgh, collapses while nearing completion, killing five.
 * 25 October – Murder of Alexander Montgomerie at Ardrossan.
 * 9 November – first Co-operative Society in Britain founded by weavers at Fenwick, East Ayrshire.
 * John Maxwell (of Dargavel) begins to practice as a lawyer in Glasgow, origin of McGrigors which continues as an independent firm until 2012.
 * Ayr Bank opens.
 * Fort George completed.

Births

 * 2 May – John Malcolm, soldier, statesman and historian (died 1833 in London)
 * 14 April – Sir William Rae, 3rd Baronet, politician and lawyer (died 1842)
 * Charles Ewart, soldier (died 1846 in England)
 * Robert Hetrick, poet and blacksmith (died 1849)

Deaths

 * 25 October – Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton (born 1723; murdered)

The arts

 * 9 December – first Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, opens.
 * Richard Hurd's Ancient and Modern Scots Songs published.