Robert McIntyre (politician)

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Robert Douglas McIntyre (15 December 1913 – 2 February 1998) was a Scottish doctor and a leading figure in the Scottish National Party (SNP). He trained as a physician at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow, working as a general practitioner and a chest specialist. He also played a key role in public health, including a major diphtheria vaccination campaign in Paisley, and later became a consultant chest physician at Stirling Royal Infirmary.

Political career
- McIntyre started in the Labour Party (1936–1940) but joined the SNP in 1940. He quickly rose to leadership roles within the party.
- He served as leader of the SNP from 1947 to 1956 and as president of the SNP from 1958 to 1980. He was affectionately known as "Doc Mac" and is often called the "Father of the SNP" for his long-time influence.
- In April 1945, he won the Motherwell by-election, becoming the SNP’s first Member of Parliament. He lost the seat in the general election a few months later and after that made many unsuccessful bids to return to Parliament.

Local government and other roles
- McIntyre served as Provost of Stirling from 1967 to 1975 and was a Stirling Burgh Councillor from 1956 to 1975.
- He was the first (and only) vice-president of the Celtic League from 1961 to 1971.
- In 1962, he was nominated as a candidate for Rector of the University of Glasgow, finishing second to Albert Luthuli.

Personal life
- He was born in Motherwell to John Ebenezer McIntyre, a minister. He studied at Hamilton Academy and Daniel Stewart’s College, and later married Letitia MacLeod in 1954; they had one son.
- McIntyre died in Stirling in 1998 at the age of 84.