George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen

Encyclopedia : G : GE : GEO : George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen

George Robertson pictured at The Pentagon in June 2001

George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, KT, GCMG, FRSA, PC (born 12 April 1946, in Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Scotland) was the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, between October 1999 and early January 2004; he succeeded Javier Solana in that position. He was six times elected to the United Kingdom House of Commons, was Chairman of the Labour Party in Scotland, and was appointed to the Privy Council. He served as Defence Secretary for the United Kingdom from 1997 to 1999, before taking up his NATO position. He has received numerous honours (including a total of 11 Honoury Doctors from various universities) Currently he is CEO of several notable companies including the weir group in his home country. He was educated at Dunoon Grammar School and later the University of Dundee, graduating in 1968 with a Master's degree (M.A.) in Economics. He is the father of three children.

Career

• 1968–1978 Official of the GMB Union for the Scottish whisky industry.
• 1978–1999 Member of the United Kingdom House of Commons, member for Hamilton or Hamilton South, elected six times.
• 1979 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Social Services.
• 1979–? Opposition Spokesman on Scottish Affairs.
• ?–? Opposition Spokesman on Defence.
• 1982–1993 Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs.
• 1983–? Chief Opposition Spokesman on Europe.
• 1993–1997 Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland.
• May 1997 Appointed to the Privy Council
• 1997–October 1999 Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom
• August 1999 selected as 10th Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council, taking office in October 1999.

Other former or present posts

• Member of the Scottish National Party (SNP)["I joined the SNP at 16 and left it at 17"]
• Chairman of the Labour Party in Scotland
• Vice-chairman of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy
• Vice-Chairman of the British Council for nine years
• Vice-Chairman of the Britain/Russia Centre
• Member of the Council of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) seven years, now President
• Member of the Pilgrims Society
• Governor of the Ditchley Foundation
• Trustee of the 21st Century Trust
• Currently serves on the Board of Cable & Wireless International

Honours and Awards

• 30 November 2004 – Knight of the Order of the Thistle
• 12 November 2003 – Presidential Medal of Freedom (United States)
• 8 September, 2003 – Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (Knight Great Cross in the Order of Orange Nassau).
• 2003 – Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
• 2000 – Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
• 24 August 1999 – created a life peer as Baron Robertson of Port Ellen.
• 1993 – joint Parliamentarian of the Year for his role in the Maastricht Treaty ratification
• 1991 – Grand Cross of the German Order of Merit
• Honorary Regimental Colonel of the London Scottish (Volunteers)
• Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dundee
• Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bradford
• Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University (Royal Military College of Science)
• Honorary Doctorate from the Baku State University, Azerbaijan
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
• Elder Brother of Trinity House.
• Honorary Doctorate from the University of Paisley - Awarded 5 July 2006

References