Robert McIntyre
Encyclopedia
Dr Robert Douglas McIntyre (Gaelic: Raibeart Dùghlas Mac an t-Saoir; 15 December 1913 – 2 February 1998) was the Leader of the Scottish National Party
(SNP) from 1947–1956 and a doctor by profession. He came to prominence in 1945 when he won the Motherwell
by-election
, becoming the SNP's first ever Member of Parliament
(MP).
McIntyre was born in Motherwell, the son of a United Free Church of Scotland
Minister. He was educated at Hamilton Academy
, Daniel Stewart's College, and the University of Edinburgh
, where he studied medicine. At university he was chairman of the University Labour Party.
He graduated in 1938 and worked as a general practitioner in England
and Scotland
, and also worked at Stirling Royal Infirmary. He later developed an interest in the area of public health
and studied at the University of Glasgow
to gain a Diploma
in Public Health. After qualifying, he worked in the field of public health in Glasgow
, Paisley
, and Greenock
.
McIntyre had joined the SNP in the 1930s and became a party's organiser when it was still headed by John MacCormick
, but he resisted MacCormick's later attempts to change the SNP from supporting a policy of full Scottish independence
to supporting a modicum of Home Rule
. MacCormick would leave the SNP in 1942 from which point McIntyre became the party's leading figure, becoming Secretary in 1942, then Chairman (leader) in 1948.
On 13 April 1945, shortly before the end of World War II
, McIntyre won the Motherwell by-election, with a majority of 617 votes over his Labour
opponent. He made history as the first SNP candidate to be elected as a Member of Parliament
. Upon arriving at Parliament, he had difficulty finding the customary two sponsors to allow him to take his seat, as members did not want to break party loyalties. Two reluctant sponsors were found but McIntyre chose to present himself to the Speaker alone, later writing "I very clearly stated to the people of Motherwell and Wishaw that I would give no allegiance to the London-controlled parties". A vote to waive the rule was lost, and eventually he accepted the sponsorship of James Barr
and Alexander Sloan
"under protest".
He lost the seat only three months later in the 1945 general election
, to the Labour candidate. He then returned to his medical practice, working in Stirling Royal Infirmary to treat and prevent tuberculosis
. However, he continued to stand in every subsequent general election, up to October 1974.
After McIntyre stood down as leader in 1956, he was elected as President of the Scottish National Party, holding this office until 1980. In 1956 he was also elected as a member of Stirling Burgh
Council, a position he held until 1975. He was Provost
of Stirling
from 1967 to 1975. MacIntyre was first (and last) vice-president of the Celtic League
(from 1961–71). Gwynfor Evans
was president at the time.
Robert McIntyre died on February 2, 1998.
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) from 1947–1956 and a doctor by profession. He came to prominence in 1945 when he won the Motherwell
Motherwell (UK Parliament constituency)
Motherwell was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1974. It was formed by the division of Lanarkshire. The name was changed in 1974 to Motherwell and Wishaw...
by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, becoming the SNP's first ever Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP).
McIntyre was born in Motherwell, the son of a United Free Church of Scotland
United Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland...
Minister. He was educated at Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
, Daniel Stewart's College, and the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he studied medicine. At university he was chairman of the University Labour Party.
He graduated in 1938 and worked as a general practitioner in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and also worked at Stirling Royal Infirmary. He later developed an interest in the area of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and studied at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
to gain a Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in Public Health. After qualifying, he worked in the field of public health in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, and Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
.
McIntyre had joined the SNP in the 1930s and became a party's organiser when it was still headed by John MacCormick
John MacCormick
John MacDonald MacCormick was a lawyer and advocate of Home Rule in Scotland.-Early life:...
, but he resisted MacCormick's later attempts to change the SNP from supporting a policy of full Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
to supporting a modicum of Home Rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
. MacCormick would leave the SNP in 1942 from which point McIntyre became the party's leading figure, becoming Secretary in 1942, then Chairman (leader) in 1948.
On 13 April 1945, shortly before the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, McIntyre won the Motherwell by-election, with a majority of 617 votes over his Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
opponent. He made history as the first SNP candidate to be elected as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. Upon arriving at Parliament, he had difficulty finding the customary two sponsors to allow him to take his seat, as members did not want to break party loyalties. Two reluctant sponsors were found but McIntyre chose to present himself to the Speaker alone, later writing "I very clearly stated to the people of Motherwell and Wishaw that I would give no allegiance to the London-controlled parties". A vote to waive the rule was lost, and eventually he accepted the sponsorship of James Barr
James Barr (politician)
Rev James Barr was a British Liberal then Labour politician and a noted pacifist and socialist. He was also a strong supporter of home rule for Scotland, a minimum wage and the Temperance movement....
and Alexander Sloan
Alexander Sloan
Alexander Sloan was Labour MP for South Ayrshire, in Scotland, until his death.His successor was Emrys Hughes.His great-great-granddaughter, Katy Clark, is also a Labour MP.-References:...
"under protest".
He lost the seat only three months later in the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, to the Labour candidate. He then returned to his medical practice, working in Stirling Royal Infirmary to treat and prevent tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. However, he continued to stand in every subsequent general election, up to October 1974.
After McIntyre stood down as leader in 1956, he was elected as President of the Scottish National Party, holding this office until 1980. In 1956 he was also elected as a member of Stirling Burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
Council, a position he held until 1975. He was Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
from 1967 to 1975. MacIntyre was first (and last) vice-president of the Celtic League
Celtic League (political organisation)
The Celtic League is a non-governmental organisation that promotes self-determination and Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man, known as the Celtic nations. It places particular emphasis on the indigenous Celtic languages...
(from 1961–71). Gwynfor Evans
Gwynfor Evans
Dr Richard Gwynfor Evans , was a Welsh politician, lawyer and author. President of Plaid Cymru for thirty six years, he was the first Member of Parliament to represent Plaid Cymru at Westminster ....
was president at the time.
Robert McIntyre died on February 2, 1998.
External links
- http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mcintyre/index.htmDetailed biography of McIntyre by Dick DouglasDick DouglasRichard Giles "Dick" Douglas is a former Scottish politician, having been a member of the British House of Commons firstly as a Labour Co-operative candidate, then latterly as a Scottish National Party member....
, former Labour and SNP MP]