Preceded by Created Name Bob Cooper Children 2 | Spouse(s) Pat Nationality British Role Politician | |
Born 24 June 1936
County Donegal, Ireland ( 1936-06-24 ) Political party Alliance
Ulster Unionist Alma mater Queen's University Belfast Died November 15, 2004, Holywood, United Kingdom Education Queen's University Belfast Party Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Succeeded by Phelim O'Neill, 2nd Baron Rathcavan | ||
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.