The Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses were established by Act of Parliament in 1786, authorising the construction of four lighthouses in Scotland - Kinnaird Head, North Ronaldsay, Scalpay and Mull of Kintyre - and the establishment of a Commission for their operation.
The Commissioners appointed at the time were the law agents of the Crown, Sheriffs of coastal counties, and the Lord Provosts and Provosts of Scottish cities and towns whose mercantile interests were involved. Over the years the numbers of the Commissioners varied, and further changes were brought about as a result of local government and sheriffdom re-organisation.
Today the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses consist of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland; the Lords Provost of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, and the conveners of the Councils for Highland, and Argyll and Bute; the Sheriffs Principal of all the sheriffdoms in Scotland; a person nominated by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man and appointed by the Secretary of State; and up to 5 co-opted Commissioners.