Donald Dewar

The Right Honourable Donald Dewar
Official portrait, 1999
First Minister of Scotland
In office 17 May 1999 – 11 October 2000
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Deputy	Jim Wallace
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Henry McLeish[a]
Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland
In office 7 May 1999 – 11 October 2000
UK party leader	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Henry McLeish
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 2 May 1997 – 17 May 1999
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Michael Forsyth
Succeeded by	John Reid
Shadow Cabinet posts Opposition Chief Whip of the House of Commons In office 19 October 1995 – 2 May 1997 Leader Tony Blair Preceded by Derek Foster Succeeded by Alastair Goodlad Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security In office 24 July 1992 – 19 October 1995 Leader John Smith Margaret Beckett (acting) Tony Blair Preceded by Michael Meacher Succeeded by Chris Smith Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland In office 31 October 1983 – 24 July 1992 Leader Neil Kinnock Preceded by Bruce Millan Succeeded by Tom Clarke
Parliamentary offices Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Anniesland In office 6 May 1999 – 11 October 2000 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Bill Butler Member of Parliament for Glasgow Anniesland Glasgow Garscadden (1978–1997) In office 13 April 1978 – 11 October 2000 Preceded by William Small Succeeded by John Robertson Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South In office 31 March 1966 – 29 May 1970 Preceded by Priscilla Buchan Succeeded by Iain Sproat
Personal details
Born	Donald Campbell Dewar (1937-08-21)21 August 1937 Glasgow, Scotland
Died	11 October 2000(2000-10-11) (aged 63) Edinburgh, Scotland
Cause of death	Cerebral hemorrhage
Political party	Scottish Labour
Spouse	Alison McNair ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1973)​
Children	2
Education	University of Glasgow
Signature

This article is part of a series about Donald Dewar
MSP for Glasgow Anniesland Scottish Labour Party Secretary of State for Scotland 1997 referendum Scottish devolution Scotland Act 1998 1999 election First Minister of Scotland 1999 to 2000 Term Scottish Executive Cabinet 2000 SQA examinations controversy National parks UK General elections 1966 1978 by-election 1979 1983 1987 1992 1997
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Donald Campbell Dewar (21 August 1937 – 11 October 2000) was a Scottish statesman and politician who served as the inaugural first minister of Scotland and leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 1999 until his death in 2000. He was widely regarded as the "Father of the Nation" during his tenure as first minister,^[1] and the "Architect of Devolution" whilst serving as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997 to 1999.^[2] He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Anniesland (formerly Glasgow Garscadden) from 1978 to 2000.^[3] Dewar was also Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the equivalent seat from 1999 to 2000.^[4]

Born in Glasgow, Dewar studied history, and later law, at the University of Glasgow. Before entering politics, he worked as a solicitor in Glasgow. At the age of 28, he was elected to the British House of Commons, representing Aberdeen South from 1966 to 1970. After losing his seat, he returned to law and hosted his own Friday evening talk show on Radio Clyde. Dewar was re-elected in the 1978 Glasgow Garscadden by-election and served as the MP until his death in 2000. Following Labour's landslide victory in 1997, he was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland by Prime Minister Tony Blair. As the Scottish secretary, he was an advocate of Scottish devolution, and campaigned for a Scottish Parliament in the 1997 Scottish devolution referendum. Following a successful campaign, Dewar worked on creating the Scotland Act 1998.

Dewar led the Labour campaign through the first Scottish Parliament election and was elected a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Anniesland. On 7 May 1999, he was appointed Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland and he led coalition talks with the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Following successful talks, the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition was announced. Dewar was elected as first minister on 13 May 1999, by a vote of the parliament, and formed the first Scottish Executive cabinet. As first minister, he set out the legislative programme for the Executive which included: an Education bill to improve standards in Scottish schools; land reform to give right of access to the countryside, a bill to abolish the feudal system of land tenure; and a bill to establish national parks in Scotland.^[5]

On 10 October 2000, Dewar sustained a fall, and the following day he died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 63 while still in office. Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace served as the acting first minister, until Henry McLeish was announced to succeed Dewar. Dewar is known for his work and commitment to the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament and being the inaugural first minister of Scotland.

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