1979 in Scotland

Incumbents

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – Bruce Millan until 4 May; then George Younger

  Law officers

• Lord Advocate – Ronald King Murray; then Lord Mackay of Clashfern
• Solicitor General for Scotland – Lord McCluskey; then Nicholas Fairbairn

  Judiciary

• Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Emslie
• Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Wheatley
• Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord Elliott

  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.
• 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 the 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. 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.
• 12 June – the Tayberry is patented.
• 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.
• Property on Raasay is sold to the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

  Births

• 23 January – Dawn O'Porter, née Porter, television presenter
• 2 February – David Paisley, actor
• 15 February – Gordon Shedden, racing car driver
• 20 April – Gregor Tait, swimmer
• 21 April – James McAvoy, actor
• 11 May – Tim Baillie, slalom canoer
• 3 June – Àdhamh Ó Broin, Scottish Gaelic minority activist and musician
• 9 June – Fraser Watts, cricketer
• 20 June – Julie Fowlis, folk singer
• 31 August – Simon Neil, singer/songwriter

  Deaths

• 24 February – Sir James Hutchison, 1st Baronet, shipbuilder, army officer and politician
• 14 September - Adolf Leipzig, nice German man, not Hitler
• 16 September – Marion Cameron Gray, mathematician
• 27 September – Jimmy McCulloch, musician

  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.