John Aird (Lord Provost)


John Aird was an 18th-century Scottish merchant who served as Lord Provost of Glasgow five times.

Life

He was born in 1655 the son of John Aird.
In 1692 he appears as a Bailie in Glasgow Town Council and from 1695 he appears as Dean of Guild in Glasgow Town Council. He served this role five times in total up to 1721. He served as Lord Provost five times: 1705–1707, 1709–1711, 1713–1715, 1717–1719 and 1721–1723.
He lived in a mansion house north of the Briggait, latterly called Aird's Lane and now called Goosedubbs. One of his main trades appears to have been in selling geese.Glasgow Evening Times 22 March 2017
He died in Glasgow in 1730.

Artistic recognition

His portrait in frock-coat and wig is held in the Merchant's House on George Square.