Archibald Stewart (Lord Provost)

Archibald Stewart of Mitcham MP (1697–1780) was an 18th-century Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh during the Jacobite Rising of 1745.

Spending more time in London due to his parliamentary duties, in 1743 he opened a wine shop at 11 Buckingham Street on The Strand.

[2] His most infamous reputation during his period as Lord Provost was the "surrender" (or welcoming depending on one's politics) of the city of Edinburgh to the Jacobite Army of Bonnie Prince Charlie on 17 September 1745.

Despite Edinburgh's "official allegiance" to England at the time, it may be safely assumed that the majority of the politicians (and perhaps the general population) sympathised with the Jacobite cause.

Ironically the larger blame (if any were due) lay on the shoulders of the elderly General Joshua Guest, who had control of Edinburgh Castle and direct command of the dragoons.

Grant states that Stewart lived in the house at the foot of the West Bow, facing onto the Grassmarket during his period as Lord Provost and describes it as full of "secret stairs and trapdoors".