George Robertson

Born in Port Ellen[?], Isle of Islay, Scotland. Educated at Dunoon Grammar School[?] and the University of Dundee[?], graduating with MA (honours) in Economics in 1968. Married with three children.

Career

• 1968 - 1978 Official of the General, Municipal and Boilermakers' Union[?] for the Scottish whisky industry.
• 1978 - 1999 Member of the British 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 Principle Opposition Spokesman on 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:

• 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
• Governor of the Ditchley Foundation[?]
• Trustee of the 21st Century Trust[?]

Awards:

• August 24, 1999 received a life peerage, taking the title Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
• 1991 Grand Cross of the German Order of Merit[?]
• 2000 Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania[?]
• 1993 joint Parliamentarian of the Year for his role in the Maastricht Treaty ratification
• 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.

Reference

• NATO Secretary General The Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, NATO, updated January 22, 2003, [1] (http://www.nato.int/cv/secgen/robert-e.htm)