Thomas McLaughlin was an Irish nationalist politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

.

Born in Armagh

Armagh

Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...

, he became politically active and rose to become the chair of Armagh Urban Council and a member of Armagh County Council. He also served as Supreme Knight of the Knights of Saint Columbanus

Knights of Saint Columbanus

The Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus is an Irish Catholic fraternal and service organization for lay men over twenty-one years of age.- Organisation :...

. In 1928, he was the founding chairman of the National League of the North

National League of the North

The National League of the North was an Irish nationalist organisation active in Northern Ireland.The group was founded in May 1928 on the basis of a radical programme for the "National Unification of Ireland"...

 in Armagh. In 1933, he was elected to represent the Nationalist Party

Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)

The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....

 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:...

, and served until his death.