Robin Cook British politician Date of Birth: 28.02.1946 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Robin Cook

Robin Finlayson Cook was a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for the Livingston constituency from 1983 until his death. He was born on February 28, 1946, in Bellshill, Scotland, to parents Peter and Christina Cook Lynch. His father was a chemistry teacher and his grandfather was a miner involved in a strike.

Cook attended Aberdeen Grammar School and later Royal High School in Edinburgh. Initially, he aspired to become a Scottish priest but lost his faith and turned to politics. He joined the Labour Party in 1965 and identified as an atheist throughout his life.

After studying English literature at the University of Edinburgh, Cook considered pursuing a doctorate in philosophy, focusing on the works of Charles Dickens. However, he abandoned this plan in 1970. Cook briefly worked as a schoolteacher before becoming an educational organizer for the Lothian Education Association and the Edinburgh Council.

In 1974, on his 28th birthday, Cook was elected as a Member of Parliament. He quickly gained recognition for his debating skills, which propelled him up the political ladder and led to his appointment as a Cabinet Minister. Cook served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001.

In 2003, Cook resigned from his position as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council in protest against the invasion of Iraq. At the time of his death, he held various positions, including President of the Foreign Policy Centre and Vice President of the All-Party American Group, Global Security Group, and Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Group.

Cook's personal life was marked by a public scandal when he divorced his wife Margaret and married his former employee, Gaynor Regan, shortly after. They married on April 9, 1998, following his official divorce.

On August 6, 2005, during a vacation in the Scottish mountains, Cook suffered a severe heart attack and lost consciousness. Despite efforts to stabilize him, he passed away in the hospital later that day.

Cook's funeral took place on August 12, 2005, in a church attended by foreign minister Joschka Fischer. He was remembered for his opposition to the Iraq war. In January 2007, a tombstone was erected on his grave in Edinburgh, featuring an epitaph highlighting his commitment to parliamentary decisions related to war. The words were chosen by his widow and two sons from his previous marriage, Chris and Peter.