The society was founded on 22 April 1936 in Glasgow, conceived by Andrew Dewar Gibb and George Malcolm Thomson,[1][2][3] at which time the annual subscription cost five shillings.
[7] In 2001, the Saltire Society's head, Scott Peake, stepped down after newspaper investigations revealed that he had fabricated parts of his biography, including his alleged Scottish upbringing.
[8][9] In November 2012, ahead of the Scottish Independence referendum, the society looked to relaunch itself with a business plan that included lectures and debates centered around cultural issues.
[citation needed] The Saltire Society is headquartered in Edinburgh, with branches in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Glasgow, Helensburgh, the Highlands, Kirriemuir, and New York City.
[citation needed] In June 2018, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, Sally Mapstone, was appointed as president of the society.