1990 in Scotland

Events from the year 1990 in Scotland.

Incumbents

 * Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – Malcolm Rifkind until 28 November; then Ian Lang

Law officers

 * Lord Advocate – Lord Fraser of Carmyllie
 * Solicitor General for Scotland – Alan Rodger

Judiciary

 * Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Hope
 * Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Ross
 * Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord Elliott

Events

 * 17 March – Rugby union: Scotland beat England 13–7 at Murrayfield to win the Calcutta Cup. The win also clinches the 1990 Five Nations Championship, Grand Slam and Triple Crown for Scotland.
 * 24 April – Gruinard Island declared to be decontaminated of anthrax.
 * 29 April – Stephen Hendry, 21, wins the 1990 World Snooker Championship and becomes the youngest ever world snooker champion.
 * 3 May – 1990 Scottish regional elections held.
 * 12 May – Aberdeen beat Celtic 9–8 on penalties to win the Scottish Cup.
 * 13 July – The Term and Quarter Days (Scotland) Act 1990 receives Royal Assent.
 * August – Privatisation of the Scottish Bus Group begins with sale of Lowland Scottish in a management-employee buy-out.
 * 22 September – Alex Salmond wins the Scottish National Party leadership election, succeeding Gordon Wilson
 * 27 September – The first episode of the sitcom Rab C. Nesbitt starring Gregor Fisher in the title role, is broadcast on BBC Two. The programme would run until 1999.
 * 29 November – Labour win by-elections in Paisley South and Paisley North, retaining both seats despite swings to the SNP of 11.7% and 14% respectively.

Arts and literature

 * 22 August – James MacMillan's symphonic piece The Confession of Isobel Gowdie premieres at The Proms in London.
 * 13 September – Iain M. Banks' science fiction novel Use of Weapons is published.
 * 5 October – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall opens in Sauchiehall Street.
 * 11 October–15 November – BBC Scotland broadcasts the television comedy-drama series Your Cheatin' Heart written by John Byrne and starring Tilda Swinton and John Gordon Sinclair.
 * Soft rock band Travis forms in Glasgow.

Births

 * 24 March – Libby Clegg, athlete
 * 10 April – Stacey McDougall, lawn bowler
 * 22 April – Eve Muirhead, curler
 * 29 June – Kim Little, footballer
 * 2 July – Morag McLellan, field hockey player
 * 11 July – Lynsey Sharp, middle-distance runner
 * 13 August – Elise Christie, short-track speed skater
 * 25 November – Eilish McColgan, middle-distance runner

Deaths

 * 6 January – Ian Charleson, actor (born 1949)
 * 8 January – Jenny Gilbertson, documentary filmmaker (born 1902)
 * 14 January – Gordon Jackson, actor (born 1923)
 * 12 August – Roy Williamson, folk musician (born 1936)
 * 4 November – David Stirling, army officer, founder of the Special Air Service (born 1915)
 * Stephens Orr, society photographer