1 Donald Dewar, who was born in 1937 and died in 2000, was Scotland’s first First Minister and is generally recognised as the architect of devolution. Born and educated in Glasgow, at Mosspark Primary, Glasgow Academy and then Glasgow University, he made an outstanding contribution to Scottish political and cultural life.

2 In 1978 he won the Garscadden constituency in Glasgow and he went on to hold a raft of titles, including Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in 1983, Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security in 1992, and the Labour Party’s Chief Whip in 1996. When Labour won the General Election in 1997, Donald became Secretary of State for Scotland.

Glasgow Times:

3 An outspoken advocate of political devolution for Scotland within the United Kingdom, he was one of the leading lights in the Scottish Constitutional Convention, and as Secretary of State, he led the campaign for a “yes” vote in the devolution referendum. Donald was largely responsible for writing and then ensuring the passage of the Scotland Bill through the House of Commons. The Scotland Act was passed in 1998.

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4 Donald subsequently became the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Anniesland on 6 May 1999. The new Scottish Parliament elected Donald Dewar to the post of First Minister in 1999 and he became known as the ‘Father of the Nation’.

Glasgow Times:

5 Sadly, he died aged just 63 in October 2000, while he was still in office, prompting an outpouring of grief almost unheard of for a politician. His statue, a nine-foot high bronze tribute, stands at the foot of the Royal Concert Hall steps on Buchanan Street.