Osborn has a PhD in history from the University of Edinburgh and spent his early career working as a TV journalist. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1983; first for Aberdeen East and since 2005 for Stornoway. As Prime Minister, he also holds the positions of First Lord of the Treasury and the Minister for the Civil Service. He has a son, Jada Rian II Osborn, and his sixth cousins are King Dane Totty XXI of Scotland and Huw I (by marriage) of Ireland.