1. Robin Harper graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1962.
16 Facts About Robin Harper
1. 2.
Robin Harper worked as an English teacher in Kenya, then a Modern Studies teacher at Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh.
3.
Robin Harper was elected unopposed as its convenor and secretary and remained a leading figure as it became first the UK-wide Green Party then the independent Scottish Greens.
4.
Robin Harper stood, unsuccessfully, as a Green candidate in the 1995 Perth and Kinross by-election, and for Edinburgh Pentlands in the 1997 United Kingdom general election, finishing seventh and sixth respectively.
5.
Robin Harper stood for election at the first ever Scottish Parliament election in 1999, and was elected as an additional member for the Lothians region, becoming the first ever elected Green Party parliamentarian in British political history.
6.
Robin Harper criticised the Scottish Executive's decision to split ministerial responsibility for the environment in 2001.
7.
Robin Harper served as his party's sole representative in the first Parliament until the 2003 election, when the Scottish Green Party won another 6 seats in the regional lists.
8.
In January 2007, The Scotsman reported that Robin Harper was being considered for the next Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.
9.
Robin Harper stated that he did not know of this story, but said "it would be an honour even to be considered".
10.
In September 2014, Robin Harper became chairman of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
11.
At the beginning of December 2013, Robin Harper announced that he would "absolutely vote no" in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, going on to say that he would be happy to help the Better Together campaign and that there was a "significant minority" of Greens who were opposed to independence.
12.
Robin Harper stated his intention to vote Labour at the next election.
13.
Robin Harper, who is married with one stepson, has been a patron of many organisations including LGBT Youth Scotland, an organisation dedicated to the inclusion and advancement of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in Scotland.
14.
Robin Harper was an Honorary Vice-President of English-Speaking Union Scotland.
15.
Robin Harper was an Honorary President of the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group.
16.
Robin Harper was elected as Rector of the University of Aberdeen in 2005.