Editing Donald Dewar (section)

== Early life and education ==

[[File:Glasgow Academy, Hillhead (geograph 6202683).jpg|left|thumb|Dewar attended [[The Glasgow Academy]], which at the time, was an [[Single-sex education|all boys]] [[independent school]] in [[Hillhead]]. ]]
Donald Campbell Dewar was born on Saturday, 21 August 1937 in Glasgow.<ref>Birth certificate of Donald Campbell Dewar, 21 August 1987, Glasgow, Milton 644/10 1094 – National Records of Scotland</ref> He grew up in a [[Middle class|middle-class]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2000-10-12 |title=Obituary: Donald Dewar |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/oct/12/guardianobituaries.labour |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> household in [[Kelvingrove, Glasgow|Kelvingrove]] as the only child of Dr. Alasdair Dewar, a [[Dermatologist|consultant dermatologist]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=TheGlasgowStory: 1950s to The Present Day: Personalities: Donald Dewar |url=https://www.theglasgowstory.com/story/?id=TGSFH03 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=www.theglasgowstory.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029171510/https://www.theglasgowstory.com/story/?id=TGSFH03 |archive-date=2015-10-29}}</ref> and Mary Howat Dewar (''{{nee}}'' Bennett).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-10-11 |title=Donald Dewar: Obituary |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-dewar-obituary-634603.html |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Both of Dewar's parents had ill health during his childhood; his father contracted [[tuberculosis]] and his mother suffered from a benign brain tumour when he was young.<ref>Allan 2000, para. 5</ref>

Dewar attended a small school in the [[Scottish Borders]] during the [[Second World War]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author=Guardian Staff |date=2000-10-11 |title=A bookish man always destined for the highest office |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/11/scotlanddevolution.devolution1 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> From the age of nine, he was educated at [[Mosspark|Mosspark Primary School]] and then [[The Glasgow Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-08 |title=Glasgow Academy |url=https://guidetoindependentschools.com/business-directory/glasgow-academy/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Guide to Independent Schools |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Site for Donald Dewar |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12530617.site-for-donald-dewar/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=HeraldScotland |date=25 September 2003 |language=en}}</ref> He made few friends at school and blamed his "shyness and gauche manner" on his experience as being an [[only child]].<ref name=":2" /> A year before his death, Dewar admitted that he had been an "isolated misfit" in his youth, which is a reasoning for his public image of being awkward.<ref name=":3"/> 

In 1957, Dewar attended the [[University of Glasgow]] where his father, mother, two uncles and aunt also attended. He met several future politicians at the university [[Glasgow University Dialectic Society|Dialectic Society]], including [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]], who would later become leader of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], Sir [[Menzies Campbell]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-23 |title=Donald Dewar: Scottish Parliament's founding father |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/donald-dewar-scottish-parliaments-founding-father-3097050 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=www.scotsman.com |language=en}}</ref> who would later become leader of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], and [[Lord Irvine of Lairg]], who would serve as [[Lord Chancellor]]. He met Alison McNair at Glasgow University, who he would later marry in 1964.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Donald Dewar |url=https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH0029&type=P |access-date=2021-07-25 |website=www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725184524/https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH0029&type=P |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Dewar was an editor of the ''[[Glasgow University Guardian]]'' and sales manager for ''[[Glasgow University Magazine]]'' in 1960. He served as chairman of the University Labour Club from 1961 from 1962 and president of the [[Glasgow University Union]]. Dewar was an Honorary Secretary of the [[Glasgow University Students' Representative Council|Students' Representative Council]]. In 1962, he campaigned for [[Albert Luthuli]], the banned [[African National Congress]] leader, as [[Rector of the University of Glasgow|University Rector]].<ref name=":1" />

In 1961, Dewar gained a [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|Master of Arts]] degree in History and in 1964 a second-class [[Bachelor of Law]] degree. After graduating, he worked as a solicitor in Glasgow.<ref name=":1" />