VISCOUNT CRAIGAVON

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 46, 18 November 1929, Page 10

VISCOUNT CRAIGAVON

TO ARRIVE AT AUCKLAND TO-DAY • Viscount Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, who will arrive at Auckland to-day by the s.s. Aorangi, is best known as the sturdy' champion of Unionism, and who successfully opposed all efforts to have Northern Ireland included in the Irish Free State. He was born on January 8, 1871, the sixth son of the late James Craig, J.P., of Craigavon and Tyrella, County Down. In 1905 he married Cecil Mary Nowell Dering, only child of the late Sir Daniel A. A. Tupper. Educated at Merchiston, he entered the military profession, attaining the rank of captain in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. He served in the South African War with the Imperial Yeomanry and Irish Horse, and was acting-Adjutant and Q.M.G. of the 36th Ulster Division in 1914-15. He was created a baronet in 1918, and a Privy Councillor of Ireland in 1921, and of Northern Ireland in 1922. He became the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1921, and has held the position ever since. Viscount Craigavon first entered Parliament in 1906 as Unionist member for the East Division of County Down. He held that seat until 1918, when he was returned for Mid-Down. Since 1921, he has sat as one of the members for County Down in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland. He was created the first Viscount Craigavon in 1927.

Amongst the honorary titles Viscount Craigavon holds are D.L. of County Down; J .S’. Belfast; hon. L.L.D., Queen’s University, Belfast, 1922; hon. D.C.L., Oxford, 1926; hon. lieutenantcolonel in the Army. He was Treasurer of His Majesty’s Household, 1916-18; Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions, 1919-20; Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, 1920-21. He is an Associate of the Institute of Naval Architects; a Freeman of the City of Derry, 1924; and a vice-president of the Ulster Unionist Council.