1990 in Scotland

Incumbents

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• 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.
• 29 April – Stephen Hendry, 21, 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 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
• 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
• 14 January – Gordon Jackson, actor
• 12 August – Roy Williamson, folk musician
• 4 November – David Stirling, army officer, founder of the Special Air Service
• Stephens Orr, society photographer