Tom Caldwell
Encyclopedia
Tom Caldwell was a politician
, art dealer
and interior designer in Northern Ireland
.
Born in Uganda
, Caldwell moved to Belfast
at the age of three. He studied at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
, then in 1941 joined the Inniskillings Fusiliers. This was followed by four years as an officer in the British Indian Army
.
In 1954, Caldwell inherited the family furniture
business, and began promoting contemporary design. In 1962, he had his first involvement in politics, asking Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
Basil Brooke
to formally thank Roman Catholics for not supporting the Irish Republican Army
(IRA)'s Border Campaign
. In 1964, he was appointed interior designer to the Duke of Westminster
. In 1969, he opened an art gallery
in Belfast to promote local artists.
Caldwell accepted a late offer to contest Belfast Willowfield
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
as an independent Unionist
supporter of former Ulster Unionist Party
Prime Minister Terence O'Neill
. He spent his time in Parliament urging discussions with the IRA, and initiated contact with them in 1972. At a meeting in Dublin, he asked them to avoid "soft targets".
Caldwell stood unsuccessfully as an independent Unionist in South Antrim
at the 1970 UK general election, taking only 11.2% of the votes cast. The Parliament of Northern Ireland
was suspended in 1972 and abolished the following year. Caldwell joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
, but the new party did not give him a candidacy at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
, and he resigned the following year.
In 1974, Caldwell opened a second art gallery, this time in Dublin. In 1976, he debated Sean Hopkins at an IRA fundraiser in the United States, leading to Hopkins' deportation. He became a regular speaker in the U.S., and an opponent of Bill Clinton
's policy on Northern Ireland.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, art dealer
Art dealer
An art dealer is a person or company that buys and sells works of art. Art dealers' professional associations serve to set high standards for accreditation or membership and to support art exhibitions and shows.-Role:...
and interior designer 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...
.
Born in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Caldwell moved to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
at the age of three. He studied at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
, then in 1941 joined the Inniskillings Fusiliers. This was followed by four years as an officer in the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
.
In 1954, Caldwell inherited the family furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
business, and began promoting contemporary design. In 1962, he had his first involvement in politics, asking Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
Basil Brooke
Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough
Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963....
to formally thank Roman Catholics for not supporting the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA)'s Border Campaign
Border Campaign
The Border Campaign may refer to several armed campaigns, in particular:*The US Army's Mexican Border Campaign of 1916-17*The Irish Republican Army's Border Campaign of 1956-62...
. In 1964, he was appointed interior designer to the Duke of Westminster
Duke of Westminster
The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
. In 1969, he opened an art gallery
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
in Belfast to promote local artists.
Caldwell accepted a late offer to contest Belfast Willowfield
Belfast Willowfield (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Willowfield was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Willowfield was a borough constituency comprising part of southern Belfast...
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
as an independent Unionist
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
supporter of former 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...
Prime Minister Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
. He spent his time in Parliament urging discussions with the IRA, and initiated contact with them in 1972. At a meeting in Dublin, he asked them to avoid "soft targets".
Caldwell stood unsuccessfully as an independent Unionist in South Antrim
South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
South Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:From 1885, this constituency was one of four county divisions of the former Antrim constituency...
at the 1970 UK general election, taking only 11.2% of the votes cast. The Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
was suspended in 1972 and abolished the following year. Caldwell joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
, but the new party did not give him a candidacy at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
, and he resigned the following year.
In 1974, Caldwell opened a second art gallery, this time in Dublin. In 1976, he debated Sean Hopkins at an IRA fundraiser in the United States, leading to Hopkins' deportation. He became a regular speaker in the U.S., and an opponent of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's policy on Northern Ireland.