Thomas Leslie Teevan
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leslie Teevan was an Ulster Unionist Party politician and lawyer, notable for his extreme youth, brief career, and very early death.
, County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
in 1927. He was educated at Limavady Academy and Queen's University Belfast. He was a lecturer in law.
constituency, owing to the disqualification of the Reverend James MacManaway
for being an Anglican priest despite the Church of Ireland being disestablished. Teevan was selected as Unionist candidate for the ensuing by-election
.
He was elected on 29 November 1950 over the Irish Labour Party
candidate, Jack Beattie
, a former MP for the seat, by 913 votes. Teevan was aged only 23 and became Baby of the House upon taking the oath on 5 December 1950.
His tenure lasted only 330 days, and he lost the seat to Beattie by just 25 votes in the 1951 General Election. Aged only 24, he thus became the youngest person to leave the House of Commons in modern times. Rev MacManaway himself died in November 1951 aged 53.
in Northern Ireland in 1952. He also served as Chairman of Limavady Urban District Council.
Thomas Teevan died suddenly in 1954, at his home in Portstewart
, County Londonderry
aged just 27.
Early life
Thomas Teevan was born in LimavadyLimavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, 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...
in 1927. He was educated at Limavady Academy and Queen's University Belfast. He was a lecturer in law.
Brief political career
In 1950, a vacancy arose in the Belfast WestBelfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
constituency, owing to the disqualification of the Reverend James MacManaway
James MacManaway
The Rt Rev James MacManaway , DD, MA was an Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and ordained in 1888. He was Curate of Clanabogan then Rector of Termonmaguirk; and after that the incumbent at Fivemiletown. He became a Canon of St...
for being an Anglican priest despite the Church of Ireland being disestablished. Teevan was selected as Unionist candidate for the ensuing by-election
Belfast West by-election, 1950
There was a by-election for Belfast West constituency on 29 November 1950.It occurred after the winner at the 1950 UK general election, James Godfrey MacManaway, was disqualified as he was a priest....
.
He was elected on 29 November 1950 over the Irish Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
candidate, Jack Beattie
Jack Beattie
Jack Beattie was a politician from Northern Ireland.He was a teacher by profession. He joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party . In 1925, he became a Member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons for Belfast East. He represented Belfast Pottinger from 1929...
, a former MP for the seat, by 913 votes. Teevan was aged only 23 and became Baby of the House upon taking the oath on 5 December 1950.
His tenure lasted only 330 days, and he lost the seat to Beattie by just 25 votes in the 1951 General Election. Aged only 24, he thus became the youngest person to leave the House of Commons in modern times. Rev MacManaway himself died in November 1951 aged 53.
Early death
Teevan qualified as a barristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in Northern Ireland in 1952. He also served as Chairman of Limavady Urban District Council.
Thomas Teevan died suddenly in 1954, at his home in Portstewart
Portstewart
Portstewart is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,803 people in the 2001 Census. It is a seaside resort neighbouring Portrush. Of the two towns, Portstewart is decidedly quieter with more sedate attractions. Its harbour and scenic coastal paths form an...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
aged just 27.