a seaport town and royal burgh of Scotland, in the bailiwick of Cunningham, and county of Ayr; it is agreeably situated at the mouth of a river of the same name on the Frith of Clyde, at the distance of eleven miles north of Ayr, sixty-seven from Edinburgh, twenty-five south-west of Glasgow, and six and a half west of Kilmarnock. It is a town of considerable antiquity, as appears by the records of the burgh, Alexander II. having granted a charter to the burgesses, confirming some other royal grants. It is a small but thriving place, consisting, besides smaller streets, of one broad street, running from south-east to north-west the whole length of the town, on the south side of the river, but connected with the town by a bridge. The road leading to the harbour is lined by a row of houses on either side, and mostly inhabited by seafaring people; and the road leading to Ayr is provided with houses in the same way. The bridge of Irvine is the widest and handsomest in the county. This burgh possesses a town-house, a parish church, and three other places of worship. There is an excellent academy, in which the higher branches are taught, a subscription free-school, several private schools, a news-room, and a subscription library. This port had formerly employed in the herring fishery several busses, that is, vessels fitted out under certain regulations to entitle them to a bounty. At present there are about one hundred vessels belonging to the port, tonnage 11,000, navigated by about seven hundred and thirty men. About twenty-one of these vessels are employed in the North American trade, three or four in the Mediterranean, one to India, and the remainder in the Irish or coast-trade. There is a considerable timber and grain trade at this port, and a very extensive coal-trade. In 1834, the quantity of coal exported, principally to Ireland, was 91,462 chalders, equal to about 137,600 tons. The annual revenue of customs is from L3,000 to L4,000. Ship-building, chain, cable, and rope-making are carried on to some extent in Irvine. As a royal burgh it is governed by a provost, two bailies, a dean of guild, treasurer, and twelve councillors. The population of the town and parish was 7007 in 1821, and 7200 in 1831.