21 August 1937 - 11 October 2000

Education: Glasgow Academy, Glasgow University (Graduated MA LLB).

Personal details: Divorced. Son and daughter.

Non-political career: Solicitor.

Political career: MP for Aberdeen South 1966-70; MP for Glasgow Garscadden 1978-2000; chairman, Select Committee on Scottish Affairs 1979-81; shadow Scottish secretary 1983-92; shadow social security secretary 1992-95; Scottish secretary 1997-1999; Scottish first minister 1999 - 2000. Sponsored by the RMT union.

Profile: Member, Fabian Society. Contested leadership elections in 1983, 1988, 1992, 1994, and deputy leadership elections 1992, 1994.

How others saw him: Donald Dewar was the tall, angular, fast-talking Scottish Secretary. An experienced politician, he long argued the case for devolution in opposition and saw his plans approach reality in the referendum and the ensuing Parliamentary bill. Sometimes seen as a witty pessimist, he was able to present a strong case and believed in reasoned argument.

He had many friends on the right of the party, some of whom he first met as a Glasgow student. He was close to the late leader John Smith, who was a witness at his wedding. He lost his wife to the present Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, and didn't remarry.

In his own words: "There's a mood of anticipation in Scotland. We've been campaigning for a real chance to take over responsibility for our own domestic affairs for a very long time.

"The vast majority of Scots see this as a democratic strengthening of the United Kingdom and an opportunity to create Scottish solutions to specifically Scottish problems. I'm very confident of the outcome of the campaign. The strength of the polls are improving for us.

"There's a very real spring in the step of Labour Party workers and the reports on the ground from all over Scotland are very encouraging. We're fighting to win and we've every prospect of doing so."