Robert Forgan

Infobox MP


imagesize =
honorific-prefix =
name = Robert Forgan
honorific-suffix = MP
constituency_MP = West Renfrewshire
parliament =
majority =
predecessor = Archibald Douglas MacInnes Shaw
successor = Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn
term_start = 1929
term_end = 1931
birth_date = birth date|1891|3|10|mf=y
birth_place = Scotland
death_date = Date of death|1942|1|8
death_place =
nationality = British
spouse =
party = Independent Labour Party, New Party, British Union of Fascists
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = University of Aberdeen, University of Cambridge
occupation = Public Health Officer
profession = Physician
religion = raised as Church of Scotland


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footnotes =

Robert Forgan (10 March, 1891 – 8 January 1976 [ [http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Rcommons1.htm Renfrewshire West MPs] ] ) was a British politician who was a close associate of Oswald Mosley.

Early life and medical career

The Scottish-born Forgan was the son of a Church of Scotland minister. [S. Dorril, "Blackshirt – Sir Oswald Mosley and British Fascism", London: Penguin, 2007, p. 151] 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. [Robert Benewick, "Political Violence and Public Order", London, 1969, p. 112] 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. [Dorril, op cit, p. 151] He served as a Public Health Officer in Glasgow and in this capacity he adopted socialism due to the poor conditions in the city. [Dorril, op cit, p. 151]

Political career

ILP and New Party

Forgan entered local politics as a member of Glasgow council after seeing active service in the war. [Benewick, op cit, p. 112] 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. [Benewick, op cit, p. 113] 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. [Benewick, op cit, p. 66] 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. [Benweick, op cit, p. 76] 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. [Benewick, op cit, p. 81] A close friend of Oswald Mosley, Forgan was godfather to his son Michael. [Dorril, op cit, p. 204]

British Union of Fascists

A close supporter of Mosley, Forgan followed him into the British Union of Fascists and was initially Director of Organisation. [Benewick, op cit, p. 113] This administrative role did not prove suitable and soon he became an important background figure, arranging private functions with leading businessmen in an attempt to secure support for Mosley and organising the January Club to this end. [Benewick, op cit, p. 94] Forgan was keen to stress that the BUF had no ban on Jews despite the activities of Adolf Hitler. [Benewick, op cit, p. 153] Indeed Forgan attempted to court influential Jews, such as Liberal MP Harry Nathan and Sir Philip Magnus-Allcroft, 2nd Baronet, through the January Club and even held meetings with the leaders of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. [Dorril, op cit, p. 310] As a result of his work, Forgan was promoted to deputy leader. [Benewick, op cit, p. 113] He held that position until 1934 when he left the BUF because of their drift towards anti-Semitism.. [Benewick, op cit, p. 113] He took no further role in politics.

References