Comprises the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Caithness, Cromarty, Elgin, Kincardine, Nairn, Sutherland, parts of Inverness and Ross, and the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Suffragan of the archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. Beyn founded the see at Mortlach in 1063. It was transferred to Aberdeen in 1125, under Nectan. The College of the Holy Virgin in Nativity, now Aberdeen University, was founded, 1497, by Bishop William Elphinstone. The see was vacant from 1577 till July 23, 1727 when the vicariate apostolic of the Highland District was re-formed; the name was changed to the vicariate apostolic of the Northern District on February 13, 1827. Elevated to a diocese on March 4, 1878 with John Macdonald appointed first bishop. See also