KINGHORN, a small burgh of Scotland, in the county
of Fife, is situate on the Frith of Forth, on the line of the
Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee Railway, and unites with
Kirkealby, Dysart, and Burntisland, in returning a mem-
ber to parliament. It is built on the slope of a hill, close
by the seashore, and is composed of old and weather-
stained houses, several of which are in ruins. The streets
are badly kept and irregular, and some of them steep
and narrow. Nearly all the population are employed in
two flax-spinning mills, turned partly by steam, and partly
by water supplied by Kinghorn Loch, a beautiful lake
about half a mile N. from the town, and covering about 20
imperial acres. The trade of the port is inconsiderable,
and its harbour at Pettycur, which was long the principal
ferry on the N. side of the Forth, is now the property of a
railway company, and is visited only by a few small ves-
sels. The buildings worthy of note are an elegant school-
house, surrounded by a considerable area of play-ground,
and a handsome jail of Gothic structure, built upon the
site of the ancient chapel of St. Leonard's. There are
also a half-dilapidated parish church, and two dissenting
churches. Kinghorn received charters from Alexander
III., David II., James V., and James VI.; and till within
a few years ago was ruled by a provost, two bailies,
and several councillors: now it is governed by three
managers. In early Scottish history it was a place of im-
portance. Here Macbeth is said to have routed the
Northmen, and near it stood Gammis Tower, a royal
hunting-seat, which Robert II. gave to his son-in-law,
Lyon, the ancestor of the Earls of Strathmore and King-
horn. About a mile westward from the town is the pre-
cinct where Alexander III. was killed in 1285. Pop. of
burgh and parish (1851), 3030. Kinghorn unites with
Kirkealby, Burntisland, and Dysart, in sending one member
to the Imperial Parliament.