Crawford McCullagh
Encyclopedia
Sir Crawford McCullagh, 1st Baronet (1868 - 13 April 1948) was a Unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
McCullagh was the director of several businesses in Belfast, including Maguire and Patterson, a dry goods firm (Vespa matches), and the Classic Cinema at Castle Place, as well as owning McCullagh and Co., a silk mercers, milliners and fancy drapery store taken over by Styles and Mantles in 1927.
He was elected to Belfast City Council
for the Irish Unionist Party
. In 1911, he was the High Sheriff of Belfast
, and from 1914 to 1917 Lord Mayor of Belfast
.
McCullagh wasn't the originator of the 'Two Minutes Silence' to honour the fallen of the Battle of the Somme, as the late Newtownabbey historian Bob Armstrong claimed in his 1979 publication 'Through The Ages To Newtownabbey.' In truth, according to the Belfast Telegraph report on the occasion, stated that McCullagh actually called for a 'Five Minutes Silence' from the steps of Belfast City Hall following the slaughter of thousands of soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division on 1 July 1916. However, Sir Crawford was, significantly, the first recorded person to publicly call for a silent tribute for fallen soldiers, regardless of the duration of it being a One, Two or Five Minutes Silence.
McCullagh was knighted in 1915, and created a baronet
on 1 July 1935. At the Northern Ireland general election, 1921, he was elected for Belfast South
for the Ulster Unionist Party
. He lost his seat at the 1925 general election
, when he took only 4% of the first preference votes.
From 1931 until 1942, McCullagh was again Lord Mayor of Belfast, which now entitled him to a seat in the Senate of Northern Ireland
. He was Deputy Speaker from 1939-41. In 1938 he negotiated with Lord Shaftesbury a donation to the city of Belfast Castle and its demesne of 200 acre (0.809372 km²) bordering on Hazelwood and Bellevue pleasure grounds. He also opened the Floral Hall. In 1941, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
. From 1943 until 1946, he served a final term as Lord Mayor. Nobody else served as many terms as Lord Mayor of Belfast.
Sir Crawford's home, Lismarra, a mansion designed by Charles Lanyon
, was renamed Abbeydene following his death.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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...
.
McCullagh was the director of several businesses in Belfast, including Maguire and Patterson, a dry goods firm (Vespa matches), and the Classic Cinema at Castle Place, as well as owning McCullagh and Co., a silk mercers, milliners and fancy drapery store taken over by Styles and Mantles in 1927.
He was elected to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
for the Irish Unionist Party
Irish Unionist Party
The Irish Unionist Alliance was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in 1891 to oppose plans for Gladstonian and Parnellite Home Rule for Ireland. The party was led for much of its life by Colonel Edward James Saunderson and later by the William St John Brodrick, Earl of Midleton...
. In 1911, he was the High Sheriff of Belfast
High Sheriff of Belfast
The High Sheriff of Belfast is a High Sheriff title and position which was created in 1900 under the Local Government Act 1898, with Sir James Henderson the first holder. It is a largely ceremonial position currently held by Ian Adamson, who took office in January 2011...
, and from 1914 to 1917 Lord Mayor of Belfast
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
.
McCullagh wasn't the originator of the 'Two Minutes Silence' to honour the fallen of the Battle of the Somme, as the late Newtownabbey historian Bob Armstrong claimed in his 1979 publication 'Through The Ages To Newtownabbey.' In truth, according to the Belfast Telegraph report on the occasion, stated that McCullagh actually called for a 'Five Minutes Silence' from the steps of Belfast City Hall following the slaughter of thousands of soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division on 1 July 1916. However, Sir Crawford was, significantly, the first recorded person to publicly call for a silent tribute for fallen soldiers, regardless of the duration of it being a One, Two or Five Minutes Silence.
McCullagh was knighted in 1915, and created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 1 July 1935. At the Northern Ireland general election, 1921, he was elected for Belfast South
Belfast South (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast South was a borough constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921-1929. It returned four MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:...
for the 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...
. He lost his seat at the 1925 general election
Northern Ireland general election, 1925
The Northern Ireland general election, 1925 was held on 3 April 1925. It was the second election to the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It saw significant losses for the Ulster Unionist Party, although they maintained their large majority. This was the last election for the Stormont parliament...
, when he took only 4% of the first preference votes.
From 1931 until 1942, McCullagh was again Lord Mayor of Belfast, which now entitled him to a seat in 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:...
. He was Deputy Speaker from 1939-41. In 1938 he negotiated with Lord Shaftesbury a donation to the city of Belfast Castle and its demesne of 200 acre (0.809372 km²) bordering on Hazelwood and Bellevue pleasure grounds. He also opened the Floral Hall. In 1941, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in Northern Ireland. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
. From 1943 until 1946, he served a final term as Lord Mayor. Nobody else served as many terms as Lord Mayor of Belfast.
Sir Crawford's home, Lismarra, a mansion designed by Charles Lanyon
Charles Lanyon
Sir Charles Lanyon DL, JP was an English architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Biography:Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, Sussex in 1813...
, was renamed Abbeydene following his death.