Claude Wilton
Encyclopedia
Claude Wilton was a politician, solicitor
and civil rights campaigner from Northern Ireland
.
Wilton's father was James McElmunn Wilton, an Ulster Unionist Party
politician and Mayor of Londonderry. Claude Wilton was born in Eden Terrace, Derry. He was educated at Foyle College
and Trinity College, Dublin
where he studied law for three years. After qualifying as a solicitor, he operated his own practice at Waterloo Place and, later, in Great James' Street in Derry.
Wilton retained his Protestant faith, but channelled his activities into the Civil Rights Movement
. He was elected as an officer of the Derry Citizen's Action Committee (DCAC) in late 1968 and called for Protestants in Derry
to "stand up and be counted" in regard to the early campaign for civil rights in Northern Ireland. He worked as one of Derry's best-known solicitors and often represented the poor and underprivileged.
Wilton was disappointed at the decision of the Unionist Stormont
government not to locate the province's second university in Derry. He regarded it as another example of government's neglect of a predominantly Republican and Catholic city. He decided to stand for election at the Northern Ireland general election, 1965
in the City of Londonderry
seat for the Ulster Liberal Party
. The seat was held by a Unionist, who had been unopposed in recent elections. Wilton polled 47% of the vote.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
, Wilton stood again in the City of Londonderry. According to Ivan Cooper
, he used the slogan "Vote for Claude the Catholic prod". He was reduced to 35.1% of the votes cast, but reduced the Unionist majority to 710 votes and narrowly missed being elected. Immediately after the election, he was elected to the Senate of Northern Ireland
, remaining a member until the body was prorogued in 1972. While serving as a Senator, he joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party
.
Wilton was involved in local football, being President of the North West Football Association and Chairman of Derry City F.C.
Wilton died in Altnagelvin hospital
at the age of 89, after a short illness.
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and civil rights campaigner from Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Wilton's father was James McElmunn Wilton, an Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
politician and Mayor of Londonderry. Claude Wilton was born in Eden Terrace, Derry. He was educated at Foyle College
Foyle and Londonderry College
Foyle College, which is also known by its former name Foyle and Londonderry College or FALC, is a co-educational voluntary grammar school in the city of Derry, Northern Ireland. In 1976, two local schools, Foyle College and Londonderry High School, merged under the Foyle and Londonderry College Act...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
where he studied law for three years. After qualifying as a solicitor, he operated his own practice at Waterloo Place and, later, in Great James' Street in Derry.
Wilton retained his Protestant faith, but channelled his activities into the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
. He was elected as an officer of the Derry Citizen's Action Committee (DCAC) in late 1968 and called for Protestants in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
to "stand up and be counted" in regard to the early campaign for civil rights in Northern Ireland. He worked as one of Derry's best-known solicitors and often represented the poor and underprivileged.
Wilton was disappointed at the decision of the Unionist Stormont
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
government not to locate the province's second university in Derry. He regarded it as another example of government's neglect of a predominantly Republican and Catholic city. He decided to stand for election at the Northern Ireland general election, 1965
Northern Ireland general election, 1965
-Seats summary:-References:*...
in the City of Londonderry
City of Londonderry (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
The City of Londonderry parliamentary constituency was a single member constituency in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It was created in 1929, as one of the five single member constituencies replacing the former five member Londonderry constituency....
seat for the Ulster Liberal Party
Ulster Liberal Party
The Ulster Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Northern Ireland, supporting a unionist position and linked to the British Liberal Party....
. The seat was held by a Unionist, who had been unopposed in recent elections. Wilton polled 47% of the vote.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
, Wilton stood again in the City of Londonderry. According to Ivan Cooper
Ivan Cooper
Ivan Averill Cooper is a former politician from Northern Ireland who was a Member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, and founding member of the SDLP...
, he used the slogan "Vote for Claude the Catholic prod". He was reduced to 35.1% of the votes cast, but reduced the Unionist majority to 710 votes and narrowly missed being elected. Immediately after the election, he was elected to the Senate of Northern Ireland
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...
, remaining a member until the body was prorogued in 1972. While serving as a Senator, he joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
.
Wilton was involved in local football, being President of the North West Football Association and Chairman of Derry City F.C.
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
Wilton died in Altnagelvin hospital
Altnagelvin Area Hospital
Altnagelvin Area Hospital is the main hospital for the North West of Northern Ireland. It provides services to the city of Derry as well as County Londonderry, but also some specialist and acute services for parts of neighbouring County Donegal, County Tyrone, County Antrim and County Fermanagh...
at the age of 89, after a short illness.