1776 in Scotland

Events from the year 1776 in Scotland.

Law officers

 * Lord Advocate – Henry Dundas;
 * Solicitor General for Scotland – Alexander Murray

Judiciary

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

Events

 * 27 February – American Revolution: At the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, Scottish American Loyalists are defeated by North Carolina Patriots. Capt. Allan MacDonald (husband of Flora) is among those taken prisoner.
 * 4 July – American Revolution: United States Declaration of Independence. Fife-born James Wilson and Gifford-born Rev. John Witherspoon are among the signatories.
 * Physician Andrew Duncan proposes establishment of the institution that becomes the Royal Public Dispensary of Edinburgh.
 * New Aray Bridge on Inveraray Castle estate, designed by Robert Mylne, is completed.
 * Probable – Dunmore Pineapple constructed.

Publications

 * 9 March – Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations is published in London.
 * David Dalrymple's Annals of Scotland are published.

The arts

 * David Herd's anthology Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs is published.

Births

 * 23 February – Heneage Horsley, Episcopal dean (died 1847)
 * 9 March – Archibald Bell, lawyer and writer (died 1854)
 * 11 April – Macvey Napier, lawyer and encyclopedia editor (died 1847)
 * 15 April – John Anstruther, nobleman, landowner and colonel (died 1833)
 * 11 June – James Gillespie Graham, architect (died 1855)
 * 18 July – John Struthers, poet (died 1853)
 * 6 October – James Duff, 4th Earl Fife, general in Spanish service (died 1857)
 * 13 October – John Gibb, civil engineering contractor (died 1850)
 * 7 November – James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline, lawyer and Whig politician (died 1858)
 * 20 November – William Blackwood, publisher (died 1834)
 * 30 November – James Jardine, hydraulic engineer (died 1858)

Deaths

 * 2 June – Robert Foulis, printer, publisher and art critic (born 1707)
 * 25 August – David Hume, philosopher (born 1711)