Henry Bruce Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Henry Bruce Wright Armstrong (27 July 1844 – 4 December 1943) was a Northern Irish barrister and politician, Unionist
MP
for Mid Armagh
from January 1921 until 1922.
Born in Sholden
, Henry Bruce Armstrong was the second surviving son of William Jones Wright Armstrong of County Armagh
and Frances Elizabeth, widow of Sir Michael McCreagh, and daughter of Major Christopher Wilson. He was educated at The Royal School, Armagh
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, gaining a BA (2nd Class Law Tripos) in 1867 and a MA in 1870. Admitted at the Inner Temple
in 1866, he was called to the Bar in 1868.
In 1883 he married Margaret Leader (died 1936), daughter of Willam Leader of Rosnalea, County Cork
. They had five sons and three daughters, of whom C. W. Armstrong
also became a politician.
Armstrong was appointed High Sheriff of Armagh
fir 1875 and High Sheriff of Longford
for 1894. He was a County Councillor for Armagh from 1899 to 1920, and a Member of the Irish Convention in 1917–18. Vice-Lieutenant of County Armagh in 1920, he was a Senator of Queen’s University, Belfast from 1920 to 1937.
He was returned unopposed to the Imperial House of Commons for Mid-Armagh in 1921, at the advanced age of 76, possibly becoming the oldest ever first-time MP. Certainly, he immediately became the oldest member of the current House of Commons. He was a Senator of Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1937, and Lord Lieutenant of Armagh
from 1924 to 1939. For 25 years he was a member of the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland
. He was Chairman of the County Armagh Education Committee from 1925 to 1931, and President of the Association of Education Committees of N. Ireland. In 1932 he was made a Privy Councillor for Northern Ireland, and in 1938 he served as a Justice for the Government of Northern Ireland in the absence of the Governor.
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...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Mid Armagh
Mid Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Armagh was a constituency in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act for the 1885 general election and returned one Member of Parliament until it was abolished with effect from the 1922 general election....
from January 1921 until 1922.
Born in Sholden
Sholden
Sholden is a quiet village near Deal towards Sandwich in Kent, South East England. It has one church, a school and a cricket field.-External links:*...
, Henry Bruce Armstrong was the second surviving son of William Jones Wright Armstrong of County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
and Frances Elizabeth, widow of Sir Michael McCreagh, and daughter of Major Christopher Wilson. He was educated at The Royal School, Armagh
The Royal School, Armagh
The Royal School, Armagh is a co-educational voluntary grammar school in the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It was one of a number of free schools created by King James I of England in 1608 to provide an education to the sons of local merchants and farmers during the plantation...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, gaining a BA (2nd Class Law Tripos) in 1867 and a MA in 1870. Admitted at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1866, he was called to the Bar in 1868.
In 1883 he married Margaret Leader (died 1936), daughter of Willam Leader of Rosnalea, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. They had five sons and three daughters, of whom C. W. Armstrong
C. W. Armstrong
Colonel Christopher Wyborne Armstrong was a politician from Northern Ireland. He was Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for Armagh from a by-election in 1954 until he stood down at the 1959 general election....
also became a politician.
Armstrong was appointed High Sheriff of Armagh
High Sheriff of Armagh
The High Sheriff of Armagh is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Armagh. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
fir 1875 and High Sheriff of Longford
High Sheriff of Longford
The High Sheriff of Longford was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Longford, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Longford County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...
for 1894. He was a County Councillor for Armagh from 1899 to 1920, and a Member of the Irish Convention in 1917–18. Vice-Lieutenant of County Armagh in 1920, he was a Senator of Queen’s University, Belfast from 1920 to 1937.
He was returned unopposed to the Imperial House of Commons for Mid-Armagh in 1921, at the advanced age of 76, possibly becoming the oldest ever first-time MP. Certainly, he immediately became the oldest member of the current House of Commons. He was a Senator of Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1937, and Lord Lieutenant of Armagh
Lord Lieutenant of Armagh
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Armagh. The office was created on 23 August 1831....
from 1924 to 1939. For 25 years he was a member of the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. He was Chairman of the County Armagh Education Committee from 1925 to 1931, and President of the Association of Education Committees of N. Ireland. In 1932 he was made a Privy Councillor for Northern Ireland, and in 1938 he served as a Justice for the Government of Northern Ireland in the absence of the Governor.