1979 in Scotland
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Year in Scotland| 1979 }}
Events from the year 1979 in Scotland.
Incumbents
{{further|Politics of Scotland|Order of precedence in Scotland}}
- Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – Bruce Millan until 4 May; then George Younger
= Law officers =
= Judiciary =
Events
- 1 March – Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes by a majority of 77,437 for a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented at this time due to a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal. A devolved parliament known as the Scottish Executive, would not be established until 1 May 1999, under the conditions of the Scotland Act 1998, following a successful referendum on the issue in 1997.
- 17 March – Penmanshiel Tunnel collapses during reconstruction, killing two workers. A replacement tunnel opens to rail traffic on 20 August.
- 12 April – Cromarty Bridge opens.
- 16 April – Paisley Gilmour Street rail accident: Seven killed in a head-on collision.
- 4 May – UK general election: The Labour Party wins a majority of seats in Scotland but the Conservatives win by a 43-seat majority across the UK as a whole, with Margaret Thatcher becoming the first female Prime Minister; remaining as head of government until her resignation in 1990. George Younger is appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, an office he will hold until January 1986.
- 7 June – The first election is held for the European Parliament, with the Conservatives winning five, Labour winning two and the Scottish National Party winning one of the 8 seats available in Scotland.{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.org.uk/section/1979-figures/european-elections-1979 |title=The European Elections in 1979 |publisher=europarl.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927093148/http://www.europarl.org.uk/section/1979-figures/european-elections-1979 |archive-date=27 September 2011}}
- 12 June – The Tayberry is patented.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP4424|title=Tayberry|work=Patent|year=1979|access-date=2014-08-25}}
- 8 September – Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. set a new UK transfer record by paying just under £1,500,000 for Glasgow-born Aston Villa and Scotland striker Andy Gray.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UcFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6162,1643959&dq=andy-gray&hl=en|work=The Herald|title=Buchanan signs on for a Danish manager|location=Glasgow|date=8 September 1979|access-date=2011-09-22}}
- Property on Raasay is sold to the Highlands and Islands Development Board.
Births
- 23 January – Dawn O'Porter, née Porter, television presenter and novelist
- 2 February – David Paisley, actor
- 15 February
- Scott Severin, footballer
- Gordon Shedden, racing driver
- Pauline McFadyen, synchronised swimmer
- 22 February – Claire Johnston, lawn bowler{{cite web |title=Claire Johnston |url=https://www.teamscotland.scot/athlete/claire-johnston/ |website=Team Scotland |access-date=11 March 2021 |language=en}}
- 20 April
- Gregor Tait, swimmer
- Ruth Connell, actress and producer
- 21 April – James McAvoy, actor{{cite web |title=James McAvoy · BIFA · British Independent Film Awards |url=https://www.bifa.film/people/james-mcavoy/ |website=BIFA · British Independent Film Awards |access-date=8 September 2022 |date=12 October 2018}}
- 11 May – Tim Baillie, slalom canoer
- 15 May – James Mackenzie, actor and television presenter
- 9 June – Fraser Watts, cricketer
- 20 June – Julie Fowlis, folk singer
- 31 August – Simon Neil, singer-songwriter
- 23 December – Kenny Miller, association football player
Deaths
- 24 February – Sir James Hutchison, 1st Baronet, shipbuilder, army officer and politician (born 1893)
- 16 September – Marion Cameron Gray, mathematician (born 1902){{cite book|last1=Green|first1=Judy|last2=LaDuke|first2=Jeanne|title=Pioneering Women in American Mathematics: The Pre-1940 PhD's|date=2009|publisher=American Mathematical Soc.|isbn=9780821843765|title-link= Pioneering Women in American Mathematics |at=[https://books.google.com/books?id=IRbOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA186 p. 186]|language=en}}
- 27 September – Jimmy McCulloch, musician (born 1953)
The arts
- Alternative rock trio Cocteau Twins is formed in Grangemouth.
- National Youth Orchestra of Scotland is formed.
- Pier Arts Centre established in Stromness to display the collection of modern British art donated by Margaret Gardiner.