George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen
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Official portrait, 2020
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| 10th Secretary General of NATO | |
| In office 14 October 1999 – 17 December 2003 |
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| Deputy | Sergio Balanzino Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo |
| Preceded by | Javier Solana |
| Succeeded by | Jaap de Hoop Scheffer |
| Secretary of State for Defence | |
| In office 3 May 1997 – 11 October 1999 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Michael Portillo |
| Succeeded by | Geoff Hoon |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 21 October 1993 – 2 May 1997 |
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| Leader | John Smith Margaret Beckett (acting) Tony Blair |
| Shadowing | Ian Lang Michael Forsyth |
| Preceded by | Tom Clarke |
| Succeeded by | Jacqui Lait (2001) |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 3 February 2000 Life peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Hamilton South Hamilton (1978–1997) |
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| In office 31 May 1978 – 24 August 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Alexander Wilson |
| Succeeded by | William Tynan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Islay MacNeill Robertson
12 April 1946 Port Ellen, Argyll, Scotland |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse |
Sandra Wallace
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Dundee |
George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen (born 12 April 1946) is a British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He is best known for being the 10th Secretary General of NATO from 1999 to 2003. Before that, he was the Secretary of State for Defence for the UK from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, he became a life peer, which means he was given the title of Baron Robertson of Port Ellen and a seat in the House of Lords for life.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Robertson was born in Port Ellen, a town on the Isle of Islay in Scotland. His father was a policeman, and his mother taught French and German. He went to Dunoon Grammar School. Later, he studied economics at Queen's College, Dundee.
When he was 15, George joined protests against US nuclear submarines in Scotland. This showed his early interest in world events. Queen's College later became the University of Dundee. George was one of its first graduates in 1968. He was very active in student life, writing for the student newspaper and joining protests. He even helped organize a 24-hour "work-in" to protest cuts to student grants. Today, he is the Chancellor of the University of Dundee.
In 1968, George and other students protested against apartheid during a rugby match. Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa.
Personal Life
George Robertson married Sandra Wallace on 1 June 1970. They have three children. He is a fan of the Hamilton Academical football club. In 1976, he was in a serious car crash but survived. He believes wearing his seat belt saved his life.
Political Career Highlights
George Robertson started his political career in 1978. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labour Party. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the House of Commons. He won a special election in Hamilton and was re-elected five times.
Defence Secretary (1997–1999)
After the Labour Party won the 1997 election, George Robertson became the Secretary of State for Defence. This role meant he was in charge of the UK's armed forces. He started a big review of the UK's defence plans called the Strategic Defence Review. This review aimed to make the UK's military strong and ready for new challenges. It led to plans for new aircraft carriers and warplanes.
NATO Secretary General (1999–2003)
In 1999, George Robertson was chosen to be the Secretary General of NATO. NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is a military alliance of many countries, mainly in Europe and North America. Its main goal is to protect the freedom and security of its members.
He was NATO's leader during important times, including the United States invasion of Afghanistan. In October 2001, NATO used Article V of its treaty for the first time. This article means that if one member country is attacked, all other members will come to its aid. This happened after the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
In 2002, before the war in Iraq, Robertson said NATO had a "moral obligation" to support the United States. He also shared interesting details about his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Putin once asked when Russia could join NATO, suggesting a missed chance for closer ties.
Views on Scottish Devolution
In 1995, George Robertson made a famous comment about Scottish devolution. Devolution meant giving more power to the Scottish Parliament. He said it would "kill Nationalism stone dead." This meant he thought giving Scotland more power would stop people from wanting Scotland to become fully independent. However, the Scottish National Party (SNP), which supports independence, has won many elections since then.
Dunblane Libel Case
George Robertson's children used to go to the school in Dunblane where a terrible shooting happened in 1996. After the event, he spoke for the victims' families. He also helped lead the campaign to ban handguns in Great Britain.
Later, a newspaper article and online comments wrongly claimed he had helped the gunman get a gun license. This was not true. Robertson sued the newspaper, and they had to pay him money. This case was important because it helped decide if publishers are responsible for comments posted on their websites.
Scottish Independence Referendum
George Robertson was against Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum. He argued that if Scotland left the UK, it would weaken the UK's standing in the world. He said that the break-up of Britain would be cheered by "adversaries and enemies." He compared keeping the UK together to Abraham Lincoln's fight to keep the United States together during the Civil War.
After NATO
After leaving NATO, George Robertson continued to be involved in international affairs. He has received many awards and honorary degrees from universities. He works as a senior advisor for a consulting firm. In 2021, he criticized the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, saying the conflict was not taken seriously enough. In 2024, he was asked to lead a new defence review for the UK government.
Images for kids
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A coronet, a type of crown, worn by a British Baron.
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The coat of arms for Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
See also
In Spanish: George Robertson para niños
