ROTHESAY, Scotland, a royal burgh in tho island of Bute, and the chief town of Bute County, 52 miles W. from Olssgow, in 55' 51' N. lat., 5' 2' W. long. The population of Rothesay was 7014 in 1851. The town is governed by a provost and 17 councillors, three of whom are bailie& Rothesay owes its origin to a castle erected about 1098, by Magnus, king of Norway. Robert III. made Rothesay a royal burgh, and James VI., in 1585, further augmented its municipal privileges. It was repeatedly taken and plundered by the English, the Norwegians, and the lords of the isles. It was occupied by the Duke of Argyle In 1653.
The town stands on the east side of the island, at the bottom of a small bay. It has been ranch enlarged along the shore on each side of the bay 11 the addition of villas and lodging-houses for visitors, who resort hens in summer for bathing. The ruins of Rothesay Castle stand In the middle of the town. The town•hall and county buildings, and the prisons for the county, are adjacent to the castle.
There are two churches of the Establishment, three Free churches, and chapels for United Presbyterians, Reformed Presbyterians, and Episcopalians. The town is lighted with gas and pommies baths and wash-houses. Close to the parish church are the ruins of the ancient church of St. Mary, once the cathedral of the bishopric of the isles; the walls of the choir, and one or two ancient monuments, ore standing.
There are a cotton spinning-mill and three power-leom factories, boat-building yards, and several cooperages in the town. The herring fishery is carried on. The harbour Is used chiefly by the steamers which ply between Glasgow end Loch Fyne. There are a Parochial school, a Charity school, and several Congregational schools ; a savings beak; a public library; and two reading-rooms. Pore Bannalyne, a village in the pariah, about 2 miles N. from Rothesay, has several small Teasels engaged in the herring fishery. It is frequented in the summer by bathers.