a royal burgh of Scotland, county of Mid-Lothian, at the mouth of the Esk, 6 miles E. of Edinburgh. The town proper stands on the right bank of the river; and on the other side is the village of Fisherton, with which it communicates by three bridges, one of which is believed to be of Roman architecture. The principal street of Musselburgh extends E. and W., and is nearly straight; the houses being in general well, though not regularly, built. The parish church stands on a hill to the S. of the town; and there are also Free, United Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Independent churches. In the principal street is a town-hall, with a jail attached, the latter having been built in 1590, out of the remains of the ancient chapel of Loretto, which existed in the vicinity. The town contains several schools, two libraries, and a savings-bank. Some Roman antiquities have on different occasions been discovered at Inveresk, where it is supposed that a Roman colony was once settled, and where traces of ancient baths have been discovered. The links, which stretch along the shore of the Firth of Forth, are extensive, and on them the Edinburgh races are annually held. They are also much used for the game of golf. The manufactures are few and unimportant, being chiefly leather, sail-cloth, and fishing-nets. The inhabitants of Fisherton are, as the name of the place implies, chiefly employed in fishing; and this village, along with Newhaven, supplies the inhabitants of Edinburgh with fish. The harbour of Fisherton is small, dry at low water, and is only visited by a few vessels of small size. Musselburgh is connected with Edinburgh, by a branch of the North British Railway; and large quantities of coal are conveyed from the pits in the vicinity to Edinburgh and Leith. The town is historically important on account of the battle of Pinkie, which was fought in the neighbourhood in 1547, when the Scottish army was defeated by the English under the Earl of Somerset. Oliver Cromwell also encamped here in 1650; and part of his entrenchments remain near the church. Musselburgh forms one of the Leith burghs which join in electing one member of Parliament. Pop. (1851) 7092.