Henry Campbell (MP)
Encyclopedia
Henry Campbell was an Irish nationalist
politician. He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for South Fermanagh
from 1885 to 1892, private secretary to the Irish leader Charles Stewart Parnell
from 1880 to 1891, and Town Clerk of Dublin from 1893 to 1920. Knighted by the British government in January 1921, he was known as “Sir Henry Campbell” only in retirement.
Son of Patrick Campbell of Kilcoo, Co. Down
, he began his career as a grocer’s apprentice in Newry
and was a member of the Catholic Young Men’s Society. In 1879 he married Jenny Brewis, daughter of R. Brewis of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He succeeded Timothy Healy
as Parnell’s private secretary in 1880 and in the 1885 general election
was elected for the new parliamentary seat of South Fermanagh by 3,574 votes to the Conservative’s 2,181. In the 1886 general election
he was re-elected against the same opponent by only a slightly smaller majority. He was a key witness in Parnell’s defence before the Parnell Commission
of the late 1880s and indeed for the most part it was Campbell’s writing rather than Parnell’s which had been forged by Richard Pigott in the plot to discredit Parnell.
When the Irish Parliamentary Party
split in December 1890 over the leadership of Parnell following the divorce case involving Katherine O'Shea
, Campbell remained loyal to Parnell, and after Parnell’s death in October 1891, to the Parnellite party. However he did not contest the 1892 general election.
In 1893 the post of Town Clerk of Dublin became vacant. The Corporation was controlled by Parnellites and Campbell won the post by a large majority over six other candidates on 24 May, in an election which was seen as a tribute to Parnell.
Campbell’s local government career ended in political controversy just as his parliamentary career had done. He was in conflict with Sinn Féin
members of the Corporation over the question of recording the minutes in Irish. The breaking point came after Sinn Féin had taken control of the Corporation. In 1920 the Sinn Féin majority passed a resolution instructing the Town Clerk not to submit the Corporation’s accounts to the Local Government Board for auditing, the Board being an arm of the British administration which Sinn Féin had repudiated. Campbell refused to comply on the ground that the resolution was unlawful. The Corporation then voted by 26-12 on 4 November 1920 to suspend him and his assistant Town Clerk, James Flood, who had declined to act in his place. Although Campbell tried to maintain his position for a time, on 17 November he resigned. He accepted a knighthood in the following New Year honours.
Campbell died on 6 March 1924 in London where he had come for an operation. He had married for a second time in 1910 or 1911, and left a widow Alice. One of his sons became a barrister, being called to the bar in 1907 and practising in Dublin and on the Irish North West circuit.
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
politician. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for South Fermanagh
South Fermanagh (UK Parliament constituency)
South Fermanagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the southern part of County Fermanagh.It returned one Member of Parliament 1885–1922....
from 1885 to 1892, private secretary to the Irish leader Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
from 1880 to 1891, and Town Clerk of Dublin from 1893 to 1920. Knighted by the British government in January 1921, he was known as “Sir Henry Campbell” only in retirement.
Son of Patrick Campbell of Kilcoo, Co. Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, he began his career as a grocer’s apprentice in Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
and was a member of the Catholic Young Men’s Society. In 1879 he married Jenny Brewis, daughter of R. Brewis of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He succeeded Timothy Healy
Timothy Michael Healy
Timothy Michael Healy, KC , also known as Tim Healy, was an Irish nationalist politician, journalist, author, barrister and one of the most controversial Irish Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
as Parnell’s private secretary in 1880 and in the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
was elected for the new parliamentary seat of South Fermanagh by 3,574 votes to the Conservative’s 2,181. In the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
he was re-elected against the same opponent by only a slightly smaller majority. He was a key witness in Parnell’s defence before the Parnell Commission
Parnell Commission
The Parnell Commission was a judicial inquiry in the late 1880s into allegations of crimes by Irish parliamentarian Charles Stewart Parnell which resulted in his vindication.-Background:...
of the late 1880s and indeed for the most part it was Campbell’s writing rather than Parnell’s which had been forged by Richard Pigott in the plot to discredit Parnell.
When the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
split in December 1890 over the leadership of Parnell following the divorce case involving Katherine O'Shea
Katherine O'Shea
Katharine O'Shea, also known as Katie O'Shea, Kitty O'Shea or, following her second marriage, Katharine Parnell was an English woman of aristocratic background, whose family relationship over many years with Charles Stewart Parnell eventually caused his political downfall.-Background:She was born...
, Campbell remained loyal to Parnell, and after Parnell’s death in October 1891, to the Parnellite party. However he did not contest the 1892 general election.
In 1893 the post of Town Clerk of Dublin became vacant. The Corporation was controlled by Parnellites and Campbell won the post by a large majority over six other candidates on 24 May, in an election which was seen as a tribute to Parnell.
Campbell’s local government career ended in political controversy just as his parliamentary career had done. He was in conflict with Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
members of the Corporation over the question of recording the minutes in Irish. The breaking point came after Sinn Féin had taken control of the Corporation. In 1920 the Sinn Féin majority passed a resolution instructing the Town Clerk not to submit the Corporation’s accounts to the Local Government Board for auditing, the Board being an arm of the British administration which Sinn Féin had repudiated. Campbell refused to comply on the ground that the resolution was unlawful. The Corporation then voted by 26-12 on 4 November 1920 to suspend him and his assistant Town Clerk, James Flood, who had declined to act in his place. Although Campbell tried to maintain his position for a time, on 17 November he resigned. He accepted a knighthood in the following New Year honours.
Campbell died on 6 March 1924 in London where he had come for an operation. He had married for a second time in 1910 or 1911, and left a widow Alice. One of his sons became a barrister, being called to the bar in 1907 and practising in Dublin and on the Irish North West circuit.
Sources
- The Catholic Who’s Who and Yearbook 1917, London, Burns & Oates
- Irish Independent, 5, 9 & 18 November 1920 and 7 March 1924
- F. S. L. Lyons, Charles Stewart Parnell, London, Collins, 1977, p. 416
- Brian M. Walker (ed.), Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 1978
- The Times (London), 5 July 1892, 1 January 1921 and 7 March 1924