Robert Forgan MP |
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Member of Parliament for West Renfrewshire |
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In office 1929–1931 |
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Preceded by | Archibald Douglas MacInnes Shaw |
Succeeded by | Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn |
Personal details | |
Born |
Scotland |
10 March 1891
Died | 8 January 1976 |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Independent Labour Party, New Party, British Union of Fascists |
Alma mater | University of Aberdeen, University of Cambridge |
Occupation | Public Health Officer |
Profession | Physician |
Robert Forgan (10 March 1891 – 8 January 1976) was a British politician who was a close associate of Oswald Mosley.
The Scottish-born Forgan was the son of a Church of Scotland minister. Educated up to doctorate level at Aberdeen Grammar School, and the Universities of Aberdeen and Cambridge, he entered the medical profession and served in this capacity in World War I. Dr. Forgan became a leading light in his field, serving as Vice-President of the Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Diseases and became recognised as a leading expert on Sexually transmitted diseases. He served as a Public Health Officer in Glasgow and in this capacity he adopted socialism due to the poor conditions in the city.
Forgan entered local politics as a member of Glasgow council after seeing active service in the war. Initially a member of the Independent Labour Party, he was elected to Parliament for West Renfrewshire in the 1929 general election. An early triumph saw him secure the installation of a ventilation system into the House of Commons, although after this he became a fairly marginal figure. Forgan was one of the signatories of the 'Mosley Memorandum' which outlined his political vision and he followed Mosley into the New Party when it was set up soon afterwards. He had officially left the Labour Party on 24 February 1931. He was appointed to a council for policy and strategy formation that was set up to decide the running of the party and also acted as Chief Whip during the New Party's brief run in Parliament. At the 1931 general election, Forgan polled 1,304 votes in West Renfrewshire in what represented one of the better results for the New Party in a disappointing election. A close friend of Oswald Mosley, Forgan was godfather to his son Michael.