| 1873-78 | Thomas B. Nicoll, Club President |
| 1879-86 | James H. Farmer, Club President |
| 1887-88 | Robert Sanson, Club President |
| 1889 | James Bridges, Club President |
| 1890-91 | James H. Farmer, Club President |
| 1892-93 | Thomas Hunter, Club President |
| 1894-95 | William Whitelaw, MP, Club President |
| 1896 | Dr. Holmes Morrison, Club President |
| 1897 | Rev. P. Anton |
| 1898 | C. Murray Stewart |
| 1899 | James Edgar, Club President |
| 1900 | James Anderson, Club President |
| 1901 | F. McKenzie |
| 1902-07 | Thomas McPherson, Club President |
| 1908-26 | Club in abeyance |
| 1928 | Sir Joseph Dobbie, SSC, President of the Burns Federation |
| 1929 | John M. Dawson, MA |
| 1930 | Sheriff G. D. Valentine |
| 1931 | W. West Kerr |
| 1932 | Lord Clyde |
| 1933 | Prof. A. A. Bowman, MA, Litt.D |
| 1934 | Lord Sands |
| 1935 | David Kirkwood, MP |
| 1936 | Dinner cancelled due to death of King George V |
| 1937 | T. Atholl Robertson |
| 1938 | Sheriff Principal D. P. Blades, KC |
| 1939-77 | Club in abeyance |
| 1978 | Captain Robert Wolrige Gordon, Esslemont |
| 1979 | David Yellowlees, Perth |
| 1980 | William A. Sandilands, MA, Edinburgh |
| 1981 | Dr. David W. Purdie, MB, ChB, Invergowrie |
| 1982 | Peter S. Norwell, OBE, Perth |
| 1983 | Rev. James Greig, Irvine |
| 1984 | Very Rev. Dr. Peter P. Brodie, Alloa |
| 1985 | M. Barclay Miller, MA, Perth |
| 1986 | Rev. John Pagan, FRSA, Dumfries |
| 1987 | Samuel K. Gaw, FSA Scot, Irvine [Past President of The Burns Federation] |
| 1988 | D. Wilson Ogilvie, FSA Scot, Dumfries [Past President of The Burns Federation] |
| 1989 | James A. Mackay, MA, Dumfries |
| 1990 | Rev. David D. Ogston, MA, BD, Perth |
| 1991 | Hugh C. Farrell, Ayr |
| 1992 | James Gibson, Kilmarnock [Past President of The Burns Federation] |
| 1993 | James D. McPherson, Annapolis, USA |
| 1994 | John Smith, Coalsnaughton |
| 1995 | Allister Anderson, Greenock |
| 1996 | Prof. David W. Purdie, MB, FRCOG, Hull |
| 1997 | Peter MacNab, Perth |
| 1998 | Andrew J. McKee, Paisley [Past President of The Burns Federation] |
| 1999 | Robert Dalziel, Wishaw [President of The Burns Federation] |
| 2000 | Prof. Edward J. Cowan, Glasgow |
| 2001 | Dr. Ian D. Duncan, MB, ChB, Glamis |
| 2002 | John Inglis, Irvine [Past President of The Burns Federation] |
| 2003 | Dr. Kenneth G. Simpson, West Kilbride |
| 2004 | David G. Mundell, MSP, Moffat |
| 2005 | Emil Pacholek, Ceres |
| 2006 | Prof. David W. Purdie, MB, FRCOG, FSA Scot, Edinburgh |
| 2007 | Andrew Clegg, Newburgh |
| 2008 | D. Wilson Ogilvie, FSA Scot, Dumfries [Past President of The Burns Federation] |
| 2009 | The Rt. Hon. George Reid, Bridge of Allan |
| 2010 | Prof. Robert Crawford, St Andrews |
| 2011 | Michael Russell, MSP, Glendaruel |
| 2012 | Kenneth Roy, Ayrshire |
| 2013 | John R. Swinney, MSP, Woodside, Perthshire |
| 2014 | Fiona Hyslop, MSP, Linlithgow |
| 2015 | Alasdair H. Hutton, OBE, TD, Kelso |
| 2016 | Dr. Peter T. Hughes, OBE, FREng, Carluke |
| 2017 | Ronnie O'Byrne, Vineland, Ontario |
| 2018 | Prof. Kirsteen McCue, University of Glasgow |
| 2019 | Donald N. M. Paton, FSA Scot, Vancouver |
| 2020 | Angus Middleton, Skelmorlie |
| 2021 | Not held due to Covid |
| 2022 | Angus Middleton, Skelmorlie |
| 2023 | Prof. David W. Purdie, MB, FRCOG, FSA Scot, Edinburgh |
| 2024 | Rev. Alec Shuttleworth, Saline and Blairingone Parish |
| 2025 | Lesley Riddoch, Broadcaster and Journalist, Balmerino |
