William Fitzsimmons (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Kennedy Fitzsimmons (31 January 1909 - 21 February 1992) was a Unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in Belfast
, Fitzsimmons studied at Skegoneill National School and Belfast Technical College. He became a domestic engineer, and in 1948 was appointed as a Belfast Water Commissioner, serving as chairman of the Commissioners in 1954-55. In 1951, he became a justice of the peace
.
Fitzsimmons was also an active member of the Ulster Unionist Party
and was the President of Duncairn Unionist Association. He was elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland
at a by-election in 1956, representing Belfast Duncairn
. In 1961, he was made Assistant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, an assistant whip
position. He also became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce. He was then rotated through a series of Parliamentary Secretary positions, serving with the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1963 to 1964, the Ministry of Health and Local Government from 1964 to 1966 and also the Ministry of Development for a period in 1965.
In April 1965, Fitzsimmons was finally appointed to a Cabinet position, becoming Minister of Education
. He moved to become Minister of Development
in 1966, back to Education in 1968 and finally served as Minister of Health and Social Services from 1969 until the Parliament was prorouged in 1972.
In 1968, Fitzsimmons' daughter married a Roman Catholic. As a result, he resigned from the Orange Order. At the 1969
, former independent Unionist
Member of Parliament Norman Porter
stood against Fitzsimmons as a candidate whose opposition to Catholicism was in no doubt, but Fitzsimmons held his seat.
At the Darlington Conference of 1973, Fitzsimmons served on the small Unionist team. Later in the year, he decided not to stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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 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...
, Fitzsimmons studied at Skegoneill National School and Belfast Technical College. He became a domestic engineer, and in 1948 was appointed as a Belfast Water Commissioner, serving as chairman of the Commissioners in 1954-55. In 1951, he became a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
Fitzsimmons was also an active member 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...
and was the President of Duncairn Unionist Association. He was elected to 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...
at a by-election in 1956, representing Belfast Duncairn
Belfast Duncairn (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Duncairn was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Duncairn was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
. In 1961, he was made Assistant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, an assistant whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
position. He also became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce. He was then rotated through a series of Parliamentary Secretary positions, serving with the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1963 to 1964, the Ministry of Health and Local Government from 1964 to 1966 and also the Ministry of Development for a period in 1965.
In April 1965, Fitzsimmons was finally appointed to a Cabinet position, becoming Minister of Education
Minister of Education (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Education was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972.-References:*...
. He moved to become Minister of Development
Minister of Development (Northern Ireland)
Minister of Development was a Cabinet ministry in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972. The position was established in 1965 to mirror the United Kingdom Department of the Environment.-References:*...
in 1966, back to Education in 1968 and finally served as Minister of Health and Social Services from 1969 until the Parliament was prorouged in 1972.
In 1968, Fitzsimmons' daughter married a Roman Catholic. As a result, he resigned from the Orange Order. At the 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
, former 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....
Member of Parliament Norman Porter
Norman Porter
Norman Porter was a loyalist politician in Northern Ireland.A lay preacher, an Orangeman, an Apprentice Boy and a member of the Royal Black Institution, Porter became the leader of the National Union of Protestants in Northern Ireland in 1948. Ian Paisley joined the Union in about 1950, but left...
stood against Fitzsimmons as a candidate whose opposition to Catholicism was in no doubt, but Fitzsimmons held his seat.
At the Darlington Conference of 1973, Fitzsimmons served on the small Unionist team. Later in the year, he decided not to stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
.