Ninian Spot

Ninian Spot [de Spot] (died 1480 × 1482) was a royal clerk and prelate in the 15th century Kingdom of Scotland. He spent much of his youth at university, eventually obtaining Master's Degree.

He can be found as Comptroller of the Rolls (compotorum rotulator) in 1456, 1457 and in 1459; in such a role his name occurs frequently in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, which also mentions that he was a canon of Dunkeld Cathedral. The prebend was presumably the church of Menmure, which was taken by John Balfour, later Bishop of Brechin, after Ninian became Bishop of Galloway in 1458/9. Before becoming Bishop of Galloway (or Whithorn), he had also held the parish church of Nelbland, probably Newlands in the diocese of Glasgow, which is mentioned in papal documents because it became vacant upon Spot's accession to the bishopric.

He was provided to the bishopric of Galloway on 15 December 1458, after the second and successful translation of the former bishop Thomas Spens to the bishopric of Aberdeen; the first translation of Spens had been unsuccessful, and so his first replacement, Thomas Vaus, did not take up the bishopric. It is not clear why Spot rather than Vaus became bishop on the second occasion. Spot was consecrated sometime between 12 March and 16 April 1459, and was granted the temporalities of the see on 27 April.

As Bishop of Whithorn, Ninian attended the parliaments of 1459, 1462, 1467, 1476 and that of 1 June 1478.