1709 in Scotland

• Secretary of State for Scotland: The Earl of Mar, until 3 February 1709; then The Duke of Queensberry

• 1 or 2 February – marooned Lower Largo-born privateer Alexander Selkirk, the original Robinson Crusoe, is rescued after four years living on the Juan Fernández Islands and begins his return to civilisation.^[1][2]
• 26 April – Act of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the provision of public libraries in presbyteries.^[3]
• 3 May – Elspeth Rule becomes the last person in Scotland to be tried before the High Court of Justiciary for witchcraft; the judge, sitting at Dumfries, orders her to be burned on the cheek and banished from Scotland for life.^[4]
• 1 July – Treason Act 1708 comes into force, harmonising the law of high treason in Scotland with that of England.
• Summer – bad weather causes a poor harvest with consequent distress.^[5]
• 5 October – last Scottish coinage issued by a mint in Scotland, at Edinburgh.
• Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge established by royal charter.^[5]
• Appointment of the first Chair of Oriental Languages in the University of Glasgow, Charles Morthland.
• First clout archery competition for the Edinburgh Arrow held by the Royal Company of Archers and won by David Drummond, advocate.

Date unknown

• John Armstrong, physician and poet (died 1779)

• 24 June – Robert Lauder of Beilmouth, lawyer and Clerk of Exchequer

• 1709 in Great Britain