Ulster Reform Club
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Reform Club is a gentleman's club at No. 4, Royal Avenue, Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. It first opened in January 1885.
The club was original built by Ulster members of the Liberal Party
, to celebrate William Gladstone's victory in the 1880 UK general election. However, by 1886, its leadership was dominated by supporters of the Liberal Unionist Party
, including Fred Crawford, and they formed a political committee to further the cause of the union of Britain and Ireland.
The committee included members such as Lord Pirrie, Thomas Somerset
and W. J. Stewart and, in later years, David Graham Shillington
, Maynard Sinclair
, Herbert Kirk
, William McCleery, Brian Faulkner
and J. L. O. Andrews. However, it attracted criticism for being overly secretive, refusing to reveal details of its constitution, membership or purpose even to officials of the Ulster Unionist Party
.
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...
, 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...
. It first opened in January 1885.
The club was original built by Ulster members of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, to celebrate William Gladstone's victory in the 1880 UK general election. However, by 1886, its leadership was dominated by supporters of the Liberal Unionist Party
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
, including Fred Crawford, and they formed a political committee to further the cause of the union of Britain and Ireland.
Political committee
From 1905, the Ulster Liberal Unionist Association was represented on the Ulster Unionist Council, but given that the Association was headquartered at the Reform Club, and the Liberal Unionists soon became an irrelevance in Northern Ireland, in 1929, their representation was transferred to the political committee of the Ulster Reform Club.The committee included members such as Lord Pirrie, Thomas Somerset
Thomas Somerset
Thomas Somerset was an English Roman Catholic layman, kept imprisoned for long periods by Elizabeth I of England.-Life:...
and W. J. Stewart and, in later years, David Graham Shillington
David Graham Shillington
Major David Graham Shillington PC was an Ulster Unionist politician.He was educated at Methodist College Belfast and Rydalmount School, Colwyn Bay...
, Maynard Sinclair
Maynard Sinclair
Major The Rt Hon. John Maynard Sinclair was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland. Born in Belfast, in 1896, son of John Sinclair DL and Alice Montgomery, he was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and in Switzerland. He served in the British Army during World War I...
, Herbert Kirk
Herbert Kirk
Herbert Kirk was an Ulster Unionist cabinet minister in Parliament of Northern Ireland.Born in Belfast, Kirk studied at Queen's University, Belfast before becoming an accountant....
, William McCleery, Brian Faulkner
Brian Faulkner
Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972...
and J. L. O. Andrews. However, it attracted criticism for being overly secretive, refusing to reveal details of its constitution, membership or purpose even to officials of the 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...
.
Notable members
- Thomas AndrewsThomas AndrewsThomas Andrews may refer to:*Thomas Andrews , English financier who supported the parliament cause during the English Civil War*Thomas Andrews , British metallurgist of international renown...
- Lancelot CurranLancelot CurranMajor Sir Lancelot Ernest Curran was a Northern Ireland High Court judge and parliamentarian.He was elected as Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for Carrick in the Stormont Parliament serving from 1945 till 1949, and was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance...
- Edward Carson
- Lord FaulknerBrian FaulknerArthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972...
- Capt. OWJ HendersonBill Henderson (UK politician)Captain Oscar William James Henderson OBE DL is a former British Army officer, Ulster Unionist Party politician and businessman....