Thomas McCalzean, Lord Cliftonhall (pronounced and sometimes spelled McCalyeane, Macalzean or Macallyean) (c. 1520 – 1581) was a 16th-century Scottish judge, rising to be a Senator of the College of Justice and a local politician who was briefly Provost of Edinburgh in 1562 at the personal request of Mary Queen of Scots who sought a moderate influence during these troubled times.
[3] In June 1556, in his role as City Assessor, he was temporarily suspended from his job for evil and foul language against the Queen Regent, Mary of Guise.
[5] In 1562 he was chosen by Mary, Queen of Scots to replace Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie, as a more moderate politician, and he was endorsed by Thomas Ewyn.
[9] In October 1570 he was elected a Senator of the College of Justice, a senior position in the Scottish legal system, replacing Lord Henry Balnaves.
He was granted a pardon or remission in May 1572 by Regent Mar for helping Mary's supporters, the Duke of Chatelherault and the Earl of Huntly when they held Edinburgh.
To fund the Castle garrison William Kirkcaldy of Grange took loans from his allies, offering the jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots as security.