Sir Robert McConnell, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert John McConnell, 1st Baronet (6 February 1853 – 22 April 1927) was created baronet
in 1900, and served as Lord Mayor of Belfast
1900-1901.
, and Elizabeth McConnell (née McBride). He was born on 6 February 1853.
McConnell set up in business as a rent agent in 1874, opening an office in Lombard Street, Belfast. The firm prospered, and with his brother Thomas, he became a prominent property developer, building small terraced houses in poorer sections of the city, and larger, speculative developments in more affluent suburbs.
The area behind Queen's University, popularly known as the Holyland
, with its biblically named streets, was so named after McConnell, a devout Christian
, returned from a visit to Carmel
, Damascus
, Cairo
, Jerusalem and Palestine
with his developer friend James Rea in the 1890s.
In 1900 McConnell was elected Lord Mayor of Belfast
, and the same year was made baronet
by Queen Victoria on the occasion of her visit to Dublin. McConnell served one term, and Sir Daniel Dixon
was elected in 1901.
McConnell resided at The Moat, Strandtown, Belfast. He died in 1927.
and later his grandson, Sir R M Terence McConnell. In 1973 the firm amalgamated with Ephraim Brown & Son, another long-standing development company which had been established by rent agent Ephraim Brown in 1854. The firm trades today as Brown McConnell Clark McKee.
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1900, and served as 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...
1900-1901.
Biography
Robert John McConnell was the son of Joseph McConnell (1829-1872) of Clougher, County AntrimCounty Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, and Elizabeth McConnell (née McBride). He was born on 6 February 1853.
McConnell set up in business as a rent agent in 1874, opening an office in Lombard Street, Belfast. The firm prospered, and with his brother Thomas, he became a prominent property developer, building small terraced houses in poorer sections of the city, and larger, speculative developments in more affluent suburbs.
The area behind Queen's University, popularly known as the Holyland
Holyland (Belfast)
The Holyland, The Holy Land is a residential area of inner-south Belfast, Northern Ireland. Composed of a series of streets behind Queen's University near to the River Lagan, the area has been dubbed the Holyland from its street names: Jerusalem Street, Palestine Street, Damascus Street, Carmel...
, with its biblically named streets, was so named after McConnell, a devout Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, returned from a visit to Carmel
Carmel
Carmel in the Bible refers to two distinct places:* Mount Carmel, coastal mountain range in Israel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea* Carmel , an ancient Israelite town in Judea...
, Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Jerusalem and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
with his developer friend James Rea in the 1890s.
In 1900 McConnell was elected 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...
, and the same year was made baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
by Queen Victoria on the occasion of her visit to Dublin. McConnell served one term, and Sir Daniel Dixon
Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet
Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet PC was an Irish politician.Dixon was the son of Thomas Dixon of Larne, County Antrim. He served as Mayor of Belfast in 1892 and as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1893 and from 1901 to 1903 and from 1905 to 1906. In 1902 he was created a Baronet, of Ballymenock in the County...
was elected in 1901.
McConnell resided at The Moat, Strandtown, Belfast. He died in 1927.
Legacy
R J McConnell & Co, estate agents, continued trading under the leadership of his son, Sir Joseph McConnellSir Joseph McConnell, 2nd Baronet
Sir Joseph McConnell, 2nd Baronet , was an Ulster Unionist politician. He was Member of Parliament for Antrim from 1929 to 1942.- Family :...
and later his grandson, Sir R M Terence McConnell. In 1973 the firm amalgamated with Ephraim Brown & Son, another long-standing development company which had been established by rent agent Ephraim Brown in 1854. The firm trades today as Brown McConnell Clark McKee.