small royal burgh (town), council area and historic county of Angus, Scotland, situated on the River South Esk in the fertile vale of Strathmore. One of Scotland's three round towers (10th-century) adjoins the 12th-century cathedral. In 1296 Scotland was ceded temporarily to the English at Brechin. Brechin Castle subsequently made a gallant stand against the English forces of Edward I in 1303. Brechin became a royal burgh in 1641. Modern industries include textiles, machine tool manufacture, engineering, distilling, and food processing. Pop. (2001) 7,199.