Dewar, Donald Campbell (1937–2000)

British Labour politician, born in Scotland, secretary of state for Scotland from 1997 and first minister of the newly elected Scottish parliament from May 1999. He joined the Labour Party while at university and contested the Aberdeen South parliamentary seat at the age of 27, later winning it 1966–70. Following a period out of Parliament, he represented Glasgow Garscadden from 1978. He was opposition spokesperson on Scottish affairs 1981–92 and on social security 1992–95, and then opposition chief whip 1995–97. He successfully oversaw the passage of legislation in 1997 to create a devolved parliament for Scotland, and in 1998 was elected Labour leader for the Scottish parliament.

Born in Glasgow, he was educated at Glasgow Academy and then Glasgow University, where he was president of the Union 1961–62. After leaving university he devoted himself to politics within the Labour Party.