Sir John Arnot

Sir John Arnot of Birswick (North Berwick) (1530–1616) was a 16th-century Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1587 to 1591 and from 1608 to death. He was Deputy Treasurer to King James VI.

He was born in 1530 the son of William Arnot and his wife, Margaret Wallace.

At the Reformation of 1560 the family converted to Protestantism.

In 1587 he succeeded William Little as Provost of Edinburgh. In 1608 he (or possibly his son) served a second term as Provost, in succession to Alexander Seton.

In 1609, during his second term as Provost, he was found innocent of any complicity in the Gowrie plot. At this time it is clear that he acquired some of the lands forfeited by Robert Logan of Restalrig including lands at North Berwick and possibly also Lochend House (which would have served as his Edinburgh residence).

He died in 1614 aged 83 (some records state 1616 which would make him 85). At death he left an estate of around £20,000 (around £2 million in modern terms).

The 1616 death makes more sense in terms of the succession of Lord Provosts as, not until 1616, does William Nisbet of Dean fill the role as the next Lord Provost, yet at age 83/85 Sir John's death could not be described as unexpected.

He married twice: firstly to Margaret Craig of Riccarton, daughter of Thomas Craig of Riccarton, with whom he had two daughters, Rachel and Marion, following her death in 1615 he then married Helen Johnston, and has one further daughter, Helen or Helena Arnot (1568-1650). Helen married Sir George Hume or Home of Manderston. George Home owed Sir John £14,000 but was apparently upset at receiving nothing in his will. The relationship between George and Helen deteriorated to the point that she was accused of witchcraft against him in 1629/1630. Not surprisingly she divorced him in November 1630. The time and location of this accusation represent the aftermath of the North Berwick witch trials.

Marion married James Nisbet, son of Henry Nisbet of Dean and brother of William Nisbet of Dean. Marion seems to have inherited Lochend House from her father. James Nisbet was known as James Nisbet of Restalrig after the marriage (Lochend House lies close to the village of Restalrig).

His sister Rachel Arnot married the Edinburgh burgess, Archibald Johnston of Warriston, ancestor of the future Lord Provost Sir Patrick Johnston.

It is thought that Alexander Home of North Berwick, Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1593 to 1597, was an in-law or cousin.