Robert Cranston (Scottish politician)

Brigadier-General Sir Robert Cranston KCVO CB CBE VD DL FEIS FRSSA (2 June 1843^[1] – 22 October 1923) was a Scottish military officer who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1903 to 1906. He had an illustrious military career largely with the Volunteer Force.

In 1914, he set up the first Edinburgh Pals battalion; the 15th battalion Royal Scots (also known as the Manchester-Scottish owing to its high ratio of members from the Manchester area). This was quickly followed by two further volunteer battalions; the 16th and 17th. Sir Robert was honorary commander in chief of all three battalions.