Clarence Graham
Encyclopedia
Sir Clarence Johnston Graham, 1st Baronet (8 May 1900 - 22 December 1966) was a businessman and an Ulster Unionist Party
politician in Northern Ireland
.
and Margaret (née Moodie) Graham was educated at Banbridge Academy
and the Queen's University, Belfast.
Controversially, along with Brian Maginess QC
, he called for the UUP to encourage Roman Catholic membership whilst speaking at a Young Unionists
meeting in 1959.
in 1952 he was, in 1964, created Baronet
, of romore, County Down]. There were nine baronetcies created in 1964, no more were created until 1990, when Denis Thatcher
was a recipient. Sir Clarence was succeeded by his son, John Moodie Graham (born 1938), upon his death. Sir John Graham, the second baronet, lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
before returning to Northern Ireland
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...
politician 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...
.
Background
The son of John Graham JPJustice 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...
and Margaret (née Moodie) Graham was educated at Banbridge Academy
Banbridge Academy
Banbridge Academy is a grammar school located in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. The school was founded in 1786.The current Principal is Mr Raymond Pollock OBE, who was previously a Vice Principal at Friends' School, Lisburn. Mr. Pollock was preceded by Mr. Charles Winston Breen , a graduate of...
and the Queen's University, Belfast.
Business career
He was director of his family's firm, John Graham Ltd., engineering contractors (est. c.1788) from 1955. The company, usually known as Graham of Dromore, remains one of the largest construction firms in Northern Ireland and operates throughout the UK.Politics
He was Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Ulster Unionist Council from 1947 to 1963. Graham was Chairman of Dromore Urban Council (1928-32) and of Iveagh Unionist Assoc (1935-65), he was President of the latter from 1965 until his death.Controversially, along with Brian Maginess QC
Brian Maginess
William Brian Maginess, QC was a member of the Government of Northern Ireland, who was widely seen as a possible successor to Lord Brookeborough as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland....
, he called for the UUP to encourage Roman Catholic membership whilst speaking at a Young Unionists
Young Unionists
The Young Unionists, formally known as the Ulster Young Unionist Council , is the youth wing of the Ulster Unionist Party . It has in its present incarnation been in existence since 2004...
meeting in 1959.
Baronetcy
Having been knightedKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1952 he was, in 1964, created Baronet
Graham Baronets
There have been eight Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Graham, two in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, two in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and three in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom....
, of romore, County Down]. There were nine baronetcies created in 1964, no more were created until 1990, when Denis Thatcher
Denis Thatcher
Major Sir Denis Thatcher, 1st Baronet, MBE, TD was a British businessman, and the husband of the former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. He was born in Lewisham, London, the elder child of a New Zealand-born British businessman, Thomas Herbert Thatcher, and his wife Kathleen, née Bird...
was a recipient. Sir Clarence was succeeded by his son, John Moodie Graham (born 1938), upon his death. Sir John Graham, the second baronet, lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
before returning to 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...