Deacon of a Trade

Deacon of a Trade, the president, for the time being, of certain incorporations in Scotland, where, prior to the passing of the Burgh Reform Act, 1834, the deacons of trades or crafts represented the trades in the respective town-councils. That act enacted that the deacons shall no longer be recognised as official and constituent members of the town-council, but preserved the power of the crafts to elect deacons and other officers for the management of their affairs. The deacon-convener of the trades in Edinburgh and Glasgow is still a member of the town-council. See DEAN OF GUILD.