The Right Honourable The Lord Provost of Edinburgh is the convener of the City of Edinburgh local authority. He is elected by the city council and serves not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. He is ex officio the Lord-Lieutenant of Edinburgh. He is equivalent in many ways to the institution of Mayor that exists in many other countries.
While some of Scotland's local authorities elect a Provost, only the four main cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee) have a Lord Provost. In Edinburgh this position dates from 1667, when Charles II elevated the Provost to the status of Lord Provost, with the same rank and precedence as the Lord Mayor of London. The title of Lord Provost is enshrined in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. The current Lord Provost is Donald Wilson.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh is ex officio Admiral of the Firth of Forth, the Provost of Leith is Admiral of the port thereof.
In total, there have been 256 provosts and lord provosts.