Donald Campbell Dewar ( 21 August 1937 â `` 11 October 2000 ) was the first First Minister of Scotland from 1999 until his death in 2000 . He was the first person to hold the position of First Minister following the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 . Donald Campbell Dewar ( 21 August 1937 -- 11 October 2000 ) was a Scottish Labor Party politician , and the first holder of the office of First Minister of Scotland , from the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 until his death .