Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Maclennan of Rogart
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Official portrait, 2018
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| President of the Liberal Democrats | |
| In office 1 January 1995 – 31 December 1998 |
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| Leader | Paddy Ashdown |
| Preceded by | Charles Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Diana Maddock |
| Leader of the Liberal Democrats | |
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Acting
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| In office 3 March 1988 – 16 July 1988 Serving with David Steel
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Paddy Ashdown |
| Leader of Social Democratic Party | |
| In office 28 August 1987 – 16 July 1988 |
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| Preceded by | David Owen |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection | |
| In office 4 March 1974 – 4 May 1979 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 19 July 2001 – 18 January 2020 Life peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Caithness and Sutherland (1966–1997) |
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| In office 31 March 1966 – 14 May 2001 |
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| Preceded by | George Mackie |
| Succeeded by | John Thurso |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Adam Ross Maclennan
26 June 1936 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 18 January 2020 (aged 83) |
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| Spouse |
Helen Cutter Noyes
(m. 1968) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | |
Robert Adam Ross Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart (born June 26, 1936 – died January 18, 2020) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Liberal Democrats party.
He was the last leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This was before it joined with the Liberal Party in 1988. After the parties merged, he became a temporary leader of the new party, called the Liberal Democrats. He worked as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1966 to 2001. An MP is someone elected to represent a local area in the UK Parliament. Later, he became a member of the House of Lords.
Robert Maclennan's Early Life
Robert Maclennan was born into a family where both his parents were doctors. His father, Sir Hector MacLennan, was a famous doctor who specialized in women's health. His mother, Isabel Margaret Adam, was also a doctor and worked to improve public health.
Robert had three siblings: David, Elizabeth, and Kenneth. David became an actor and director, and Elizabeth was an actress and writer.
Robert went to several well-known universities. He studied at Glasgow Academy, then at Balliol College, Oxford and Trinity College, Cambridge in the UK. He also studied in the United States at Columbia University in New York City. After his studies, he became a lawyer in 1962. He worked as an international lawyer in London before he became a politician.
His Time in Parliament
Robert Maclennan first became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1966. He represented the area of Caithness and Sutherland. He continued to represent this area until 1997. After some changes to the voting areas, he represented Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross from 1997 to 2001.
He started his political career with the Labour Party. He even served as a junior minister in the Labour government between 1974 and 1979. A junior minister helps a main minister with their work.
In 1981, he decided to leave the Labour Party. He became one of the first members of the new Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was one of the few SDP MPs who kept their seat in the 1983 election.
After being the leader of the SDP in 1988, he became a spokesperson for the new Liberal Democrats party. He was also the president of the Liberal Democrats from 1994 to 1998.
In 1997, he was made a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the King or Queen.
After he retired from being an MP in 2001, he was given a special title. He became a life peer in the House of Lords, known as Baron Maclennan of Rogart. This meant he could continue to be involved in politics in the House of Lords. He spoke for the Liberal Democrats on matters related to the Cabinet Office and Scotland until 2015.
Personal Life
Robert Maclennan married Helen Noyes in 1968. Helen was an American teacher. They had two children together, a son and a daughter. Helen also had a son from a previous marriage.
Robert Maclennan passed away on January 18, 2020, at the age of 83.
