a royal burgh of Scotland, capital of the county of Bute, stands at the head of a deep bay in the island of Bute, near the entrance of the strait called the Kyles of Bute, between that island and Argyleshire, 52 miles W. of Glasgow. A range of elegant villas stretches along the shore for some distance from E. to W., and in the centre the town extends somewhat farther to the south, and has several transverse streets. Near the centre of the town stands the ruins of the old royal castle of Rothesay, burned by a brother of the Duke of Argyle in the year 1685. One of the chief edifices in Rothesay is that which contains the town-hall and county buildings, a castellated structure with a handsome tower. Besides this, the only buildings deserving notice are the churches, of which there are two, one a chapel of ease, belonging to the Established Church; three, two of which have elegant spires, to the Free Church; one each to the United Presbyterians, Reformed Presbyterians, Baptists, and Episcopalians. Abundant means of education are supplied by several schools; and there are a news-room and more than one library. The town contains cotton factories, power-loom factories, boat-building yards, Rothschild and cooperages. But the principal occupation of the inhabitants is fishing, especially for herring, but also in Rotteck, a less degree for salmon, haddock, whitings, and soles. The harbour has a good stone pier, which is used by the steamers that ply from Glasgow to Inverary and the West Highlands. The burgh is governed by a provost and seventeen councillors; it formerly joined with some others in electing a member of Parliament, but was disfranchised by the Reform Act of 1832. Rothesay and the neighbouring village of Port Bannatyne are much frequented during the summer as watering-places. The climate is very mild, as the bay is almost land-locked. Rothesay Castle is supposed to have been founded about the end of the eleventh century. It was besieged in 1263 by Haibec, King of the Isles, taken by the English in the reign of Baliol, and by the Scotch under Bruce in 1311. Robert II. built a palace here; and Robert III. granted a charter to the burgh in 1400. The former monarch created his eldest son Duke of Rothesay, a title still borne by the Prince of Wales. Pop. (1851) 7014. (See Buteshire.)