Roland Muirhead

Roland Eugene Muirhead (24 July 1868 – 2 August 1964) was a Scottish businessman and Scottish nationalist politician.

Roland Eugene Muirhead
President of the Scottish National Party
In office 1936–1950
Preceded by	Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham
Succeeded by	Tom Gibson
Personal details
Born	24 July 1868 Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died	2 August 1964 (aged 96) Meikle Cloak Farm, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Political party	Scottish National Party
Other political affiliations	National Party of Scotland Independent Labour Party Liberal Party
Spouse(s)	Flora McFadzean (m. 1945-1964)
Alma mater	High School of Glasgow
Occupation	Businessman

Muirhead was born in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, the second son of Andrew Muirhead, a businessman and owner of the Gryffe Tannery, and his wife, Isabella Reid. Roland was a member of the Young Scots' Society but left in 1914 due to pacifist objections to Liberal Party support for Britain's involvement in the First World War. He became a member of the Independent Labour Party from 1918 but later left, becoming first chairman of the National Party of Scotland. He was on the left of the Scottish National Party (SNP) following its creation from the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party and served as president 1936 to 1950. He opposed conscription during the Second World War. A letter to a Nazi agent, Dr Von Teffenar, was found at his home.[1]

In 1950, Muirhead formed the Scottish National Congress, a direct action group focused on campaigning for Scottish Home Rule. While remaining a leading member of the SNP, he devoted most of his time to the new group and, ultimately, the production of a proposed Scottish constitution.[2]

He died in 1964 and was buried at his home town of Lochwinnoch. In 1968 a plaque was unveiled at his former home in commemoration.[3]

Tom Johnston MP, a lifelong friend of Muirhead, and Labour Secretary of State for Scotland during the 2nd World War Coalition government, stated that Roland Muirhead was 'the greatest patriot which Renfrewshire has produced since William Wallace'[4]

References

1. Vaughan, Margaret (27 August 1994). "SNP attack decision to open MI5 war files". The Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
2. Peter Lynch, SNP: The History of the Scottish National Party, pp.84-85
3. "Plaque unveiled to SNP founder". The Glasgow Herald. 16 December 1968. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
4. "Legend". Independence, The SNP magazine (July/August 2016 issue page 9).

• "Muirhead, Roland Eugene". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/40350. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• Kemp, Arnold, "Roland Muirhead's fight for a Scottish Parliament", .