Bob Cooper (politician)
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Sir Bob Cooper CBE |
|
|---|---|
| Leader of the Alliance Party | |
|
In office 1970–1972 Serving with Oliver Napier |
|
| Preceded by | Created |
| Succeeded by | Phelim O'Neill |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
24 June 1936 County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | 15 November 2004 (aged 68) Holywood, Northern Ireland |
| Political party |
Alliance Ulster Unionist |
| Spouse(s) | Pat |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
Sir Robert George Cooper CBE (24 June 1936 – 15 November 2004), popularly known as Sir Bob Cooper, was a politician and equal opportunities activist in Northern Ireland.
Born and raised in County Donegal in Ireland, Cooper, a Presbyterian, attended Foyle College and then studied law at The Queen's University of Belfast, where he was the Chair of the Young Unionists. Despite his Protestant Unionist background, Cooper married a Catholic.
In 1970, Cooper became a founder member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was elected for West Belfast. Soon after, he became deputy leader of the party, and in 1975 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention.
In 1976, Cooper left politics to take up an appointment as head of the Fair Employment Agency. In 1990, this became the Fair Employment Commission, and he continued in the post until 1999. He then headed the Integrated Education Fund until shortly before his death.
Cooper was knighted in 1998. His wife was Lady Pat Cooper.
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