Dudley McCorkell
Encyclopedia
Sir Dudley Evelyn Bruce McCorkell, MBE
, DL
, JP
(22 February 1883 – 30 May 1960) was a Mayor of Derry
(1930-1934), Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry
(1957-1960) and ex officio member of the Senate of Northern Ireland
.
and Pembroke College
, Cambridge University, where he won a blue for hockey; playing for two seasons.
At the outbreak of World War I
, McCorkell offered himself for active service but his offer was declined on medical grounds. He then devoted his time to the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John
. He served as Director for Derry
and County Donegal
during the war. In 1918, he was invested as an MBE
for his work during the war. In 1917 he was made a Justice of the Peace
, High Sheriff
of County Londonderry from 1925 and, like many of his ancestors before him, Deputy Lieutenant
for County Londonderry from 1926.
Like his grandfather, Bartholomew McCorkell, he was elected as Mayor of Derry
from 1929 and served in that capacity until 1934. He also served as an ex officio member of the Senate of Northern Ireland
and in that capacity he attended the Ottawa Conference on Trade
in 1932. McCorkell, along with his nephew Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell
who succeeded him, served as Harbour Board Commissioners and as Chairmen of Wm. McCorkell., who operated the McCorkell Line
.
From 1957, until his death, McCorkell served as Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry
. Sir Dudley was also the first President of the Derry Horticultural Society.
, Amelia Earhart
completed her first solo transatlantic flight when she landed in Ballyarnett, Culmore. As Mayor of the City, and the landowner of the Ballyarentt lands, McCorkell welcomed Amelia Earhart after her successful flight.
and are a sept
of Clan Gunn
. McCorkell's great grandfather William McCorkell set up the McCorkell Line
in 1778; the family shipping business. McCorkell was a descendent of The Earls of Longford
and King Edward III
. McCorkell, who was knighted in 1933, was married to Helen Elizabeth Usher and had one son and three daughters. His son Lt. Francis Dudley Pakenham McCorkell served in the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards
during World War II
and was killed in action on the 6 August 1944 at the age of 21. He is buried in the St. Charles de Percy War Cemetery in Normandy
. Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell
was his nephew. McCorkell lived in the family home at Ballyarnett, County Londonderry.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
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...
(22 February 1883 – 30 May 1960) was a Mayor of Derry
Mayor of Derry
The Mayor of Derry, legally the Mayor of Londonderry is an honorary position bestowed upon a Citizen of Derry in Northern Ireland, who is in practice a member of Derry City Council, chosen by his or her peers on the Council to serve a one year term. The Mayor is Chairman of the Council as well as...
(1930-1934), Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry
Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry
This is a list of people to have been Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry. The office was created on 23 August 1831.-County Londonderry:*George Canning, 1st Baron Garvagh 7 October 1831 – 20 August 1840*Sir Robert Ferguson, 2nd Baronet 1840 – 13 March 1860...
(1957-1960) and ex officio member of 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:...
.
Career
McCorkell was educated at Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
, Cambridge University, where he won a blue for hockey; playing for two seasons.
At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, McCorkell offered himself for active service but his offer was declined on medical grounds. He then devoted his time to the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
. He served as Director for Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
and County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
during the war. In 1918, he was invested as an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for his work during the war. In 1917 he was made 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...
, High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of County Londonderry from 1925 and, like many of his ancestors before him, Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for County Londonderry from 1926.
Like his grandfather, Bartholomew McCorkell, he was elected as Mayor of Derry
Mayor of Derry
The Mayor of Derry, legally the Mayor of Londonderry is an honorary position bestowed upon a Citizen of Derry in Northern Ireland, who is in practice a member of Derry City Council, chosen by his or her peers on the Council to serve a one year term. The Mayor is Chairman of the Council as well as...
from 1929 and served in that capacity until 1934. He also served as an ex officio member of 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 in that capacity he attended the Ottawa Conference on Trade
British Empire Economic Conference
The British Empire Economic Conference was a 1932 conference of British colonies and the autonomous dominions held to discuss the Great Depression. It was held between 21 July and 20 August in Ottawa.The conference saw the group admit the failure of the gold standard and abandon attempts to...
in 1932. McCorkell, along with his nephew Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell
Michael McCorkell
Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell, KCVO, OBE, TD, JP, DL was an Northern Irish soldier and British public servant, emulating the high level of British public service of successive generations of the McCorkell family, being Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry for 25 years...
who succeeded him, served as Harbour Board Commissioners and as Chairmen of Wm. McCorkell., who operated the McCorkell Line
McCorkell Line
The McCorkell Line was operated by Wm. McCorkell & Co. Ltd. from 1778, principally carrying passengers from Ireland, Scotland and England to the Americas...
.
From 1957, until his death, McCorkell served as Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry
Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry
This is a list of people to have been Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry. The office was created on 23 August 1831.-County Londonderry:*George Canning, 1st Baron Garvagh 7 October 1831 – 20 August 1840*Sir Robert Ferguson, 2nd Baronet 1840 – 13 March 1860...
. Sir Dudley was also the first President of the Derry Horticultural Society.
Amelia Earhart
While McCorkell was Mayor of DerryMayor of Derry
The Mayor of Derry, legally the Mayor of Londonderry is an honorary position bestowed upon a Citizen of Derry in Northern Ireland, who is in practice a member of Derry City Council, chosen by his or her peers on the Council to serve a one year term. The Mayor is Chairman of the Council as well as...
, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
completed her first solo transatlantic flight when she landed in Ballyarnett, Culmore. As Mayor of the City, and the landowner of the Ballyarentt lands, McCorkell welcomed Amelia Earhart after her successful flight.
Family
The McCorkell's, who are originally from Scotland, are from the Clan McCorquodaleClan McCorquodale
Clan McCorquodale is a Scottish clan, recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, though without a chief so recognised. The last chief of the clan died in the 18th century. Because the clan does not have a recognised chief, it is considered an armigerous clan, and has no legal standing under Scots...
and are a sept
Sept
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
of Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn is a Scottish clan associated with northeastern Scotland, including Caithness and Sutherland as well as the Orkney Islands.The clan's origins stretch over the sea to Norway, and the Clan Gunn themselves claim descent from the legendary viking Sweyn Asleifsson, the progenitor of the clan,...
. McCorkell's great grandfather William McCorkell set up the McCorkell Line
McCorkell Line
The McCorkell Line was operated by Wm. McCorkell & Co. Ltd. from 1778, principally carrying passengers from Ireland, Scotland and England to the Americas...
in 1778; the family shipping business. McCorkell was a descendent of The Earls of Longford
Earl of Longford
Earl of Longford is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland. It was first bestowed upon Francis Aungier, 3rd Baron Aungier of Longford, in 1677, with remainder to his younger brother Ambrose. He had previously represented Surrey in the House of Commons and had already been...
and King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. McCorkell, who was knighted in 1933, was married to Helen Elizabeth Usher and had one son and three daughters. His son Lt. Francis Dudley Pakenham McCorkell served in the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was killed in action on the 6 August 1944 at the age of 21. He is buried in the St. Charles de Percy War Cemetery in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell
Michael McCorkell
Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell, KCVO, OBE, TD, JP, DL was an Northern Irish soldier and British public servant, emulating the high level of British public service of successive generations of the McCorkell family, being Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry for 25 years...
was his nephew. McCorkell lived in the family home at Ballyarnett, County Londonderry.