George Robertson pictured at The Pentagon in June 2001

The Right Honourable George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, KT, GCMG, FRSA, PC (born 12 April 1946, in Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Scotland) was the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, between October 1999 and early January 2004; he succeeded Javier Solana in that position. He was six times elected to the United Kingdom House of Commons, was Chairman of the Labour Party in Scotland, and was appointed to the Privy Council. He served as Defence Secretary for the United Kingdom from 1997 to 1999, before taking up his NATO position. He has received numerous honours. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (444x663, 25 KB) Licensing This image is a work of a U.S. military or Department of Defense employee, taken or made during the course of an employees official duties. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (444x663, 25 KB) Licensing This image is a work of a U.S. military or Department of Defense employee, taken or made during the course of an employees official duties. ... A pre-9/11 view of The Pentagon, looking east with the Potomac River and Washington Monument in the distance. ... The Right Honourable (abbreviated The Rt Hon. ... James VII ordained the modern Order. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Port Ellen is a small town in Argyll, Scotland. ... Islay shown within Argyll Islay (from the Gaelic Ìle - pronounced EYE-lah) is a Scottish island, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... For the National Association of Theatre Owners, please see National Association of Theatre Owners. ... Look up October in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Javier Solana Francisco Javier Solana Madariaga (born July 14, 1942 in Madrid, Spain) is the High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union (EU) and the Western European Union (WEU). ... The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ... The Labour Party has historically been the principal left wing political party of the United Kingdom since its formation in the early 20th century (see British politics). ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on...

He was educated at the University of Dundee, graduating in 1968 with a Master's degree (M.A.) in Economics. He is the father of three children. The University of Dundee is the principal university in the city and Royal Burgh of Dundee, Scotland. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course of one to three years in duration. ... Economics (from the Greek οίκος [oikos], family, household, estate, and νομος [nomos], custom, law, hence household management and management of the state) is a social science that studies the production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services. ...

Career

• 1968–1978 Official of the GMB Union for the Scottish whisky industry.
• 1978–1999 Member of the United Kingdom 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 Shadow Secretary of State for 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.

1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom, and has more than 700,000 members. ... Scotch whisky, often called simply Scotch, is a distilled spirit made in Scotland. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Hamilton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1997. ... Hamilton South is a former constituency in the UK Parliament which has now been abolished. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... In military science, defense (or defence) is the art of preventing an enemy from conquering territory; usually via fortifications. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Foreign Affairs is an American journal of international relations. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... World map showing Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... North Atlantic Council is the most senior political governing body of NATO. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level (PermReps), or can be comprised of member states Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of State. ...

Other former or present posts

• Member of the Scottish National Party (SNP)
• 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

In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ... The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is a United Kingdom government funded organisation set up to promote democratic institutions overseas. ... The British Council is a partly UK Government-funded cultural relations organisation and a registered charity in the United Kingdom. ... Chatham House (formerly the Royal Institute of International Affairs) is an institute based in London for the analysis of current affairs around the world. ... Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. ... The Ditchley Foundation is a British organisation based at Ditchley House near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, which aims to promote international relations, especially Anglo-American relations, through a program of around fifteen annual conferences on matters of international interest. ...

Honours and Awards

• 30 November 2004 – Knight of the Order of the Thistle
• 12 November 2003 – Presidential Medal of Freedom (United States)
• 8 September 2003 – Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (Knight Great Cross in the Order of Orange Nassau).
• 2003 – Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
• 2000 – Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
• 24 August 1999 – created a life peer as Baron Robertson of Port Ellen.
• 1993 – joint Parliamentarian of the Year for his role in the Maastricht Treaty ratification
• 1991 – Grand Cross of the German Order of Merit
• 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.

November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... James VII ordained the modern Order. ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States, considered the equivalent of the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch Oranje-Nassau), is a family that has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands since William I of Orange (also known as William the Silent and Father of the Fatherland) organised the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... In the United Kingdom, Life Peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited (those whose titles are inheritable are known as hereditary peers). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The Maastricht Treaty (formally, the Treaty on European Union) was signed on 7 February 1992 in Maastricht between the members of the European Community and entered into force on 1 November 1993, under the Delors Commission. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... London Scottish Football Club is a Rugby Union team in England. ... The University of Dundee is the principal university in the city and Royal Burgh of Dundee, Scotland. ... The University of Bradford is a university in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. ... Cranfield University is a university based on three campuses at Cranfield, Silsoe and Shrivenham. ... The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. ... The Royal Society of Arts, whose correct name is the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce but which is more commonly known as the RSA, is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London, which exists to deliver five Manifesto Challenges: encouraging enterprise, moving towards a zero... The Corporation of Trinity House - came into being in 1514 by Royal Charter granted by Henry VIII. Flag of Trinity House Trinity House has three main functions: The care of all lighthouses in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. ...

Reference

• NATO Secretary General The Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, NATO, updated January 22, 2003, [1]