James Chambers
Encyclopedia
James Chambers QC
(1863 – 11 June 1917) was an Irish
lawyer and Unionist politician.
, County Armagh
. Leaving Lurgan College
, he proceeded to Queen's College, Belfast, where he studied Law, going on to the University of London
to complete his studies.
in 1885, serving in the North-East Circuit. In 1902 he took silk
, and three years later was elected a bencher of King's Inns
. He sat as Unionist Member of Parliament
for South Belfast
from 1910 to 1917 and was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
in March 1917, in succession to James O'Connor, who became Attorney General. He ratined this office until his death in June of the same year.
In addition to his legal career, Mr. Chambers was an ardent Unionist, viz an excerpt from a speech he made on the Home Rule debate
"As regards the future, what if a day should come when Ireland would be clamouring for independence complete and thorough from Great Britain? … What side would we take then? (A voice : 'Germany!' ) I bind no man to my opinions. We owe to England allegiance, loyalty, and gratitude; but if England cast us off, then I reserve the right, as a betrayed man, to say: 'I shall act as I have a right to act. I shall sing no longer "God Save the King" ' … I say here solemnly that the day England casts us off and despises our loyalty and allegiance, that day I will say: 'England, I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh'." James Chambers K.C., M.P., South Belfast, May 23, 1913.
He was one of the 10 signatories on the first page of the Ulster Covenant, as report in the book Ulster's stand for Union:
"When Carson had signed the Covenant he handed the silver pen to Londonderry, and the latter's name was followed in order by the signatures of the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Lord Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore (afterwards Primate of All Ireland), the Dean of Belfast (afterwards Bishop of Down), the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church, the President of the Methodist Conference, the ex-Chairman of the Congregational Union, Viscount Castlereagh, and Mr. James Chambers, M.P. for South Belfast; and the rest of the company,including the Right Hon. Thomas Sinclair and the veteran Sir William Ewart, as well as the members of the Corporation and other public authorities and boards, having attached their signatures to other sheets, the general public waiting outside were then admitted."
Chambers died in June 1917.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(1863 – 11 June 1917) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
lawyer and Unionist politician.
Background and education
Chambers was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Chambers, of DarkleyDarkley
Darkley is a small village and townland near Keady in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 282 people.- History :Historically Darkley was a mill village and produced linen....
, 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...
. Leaving Lurgan College
Lurgan College
Lurgan College is a selective age 14-19 grammar school situated in the town of Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.- History :As befitted a growing industrial town, Lurgan had a strong educational establishment from the mid 19th Century. The opening of the Model School in 1863 had been the...
, he proceeded to Queen's College, Belfast, where he studied Law, going on to the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
to complete his studies.
Legal and political career
Chambers was called to the BarBar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1885, serving in the North-East Circuit. In 1902 he took silk
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, and three years later was elected a bencher of King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
. He sat as Unionist Member of Parliament
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 South Belfast
Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
from 1910 to 1917 and was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
Solicitor-General for Ireland
The Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. At least one holder of the office, Patrick Barnewall played a significant role in...
in March 1917, in succession to James O'Connor, who became Attorney General. He ratined this office until his death in June of the same year.
In addition to his legal career, Mr. Chambers was an ardent Unionist, viz an excerpt from a speech he made on the Home Rule debate
"As regards the future, what if a day should come when Ireland would be clamouring for independence complete and thorough from Great Britain? … What side would we take then? (A voice : 'Germany!' ) I bind no man to my opinions. We owe to England allegiance, loyalty, and gratitude; but if England cast us off, then I reserve the right, as a betrayed man, to say: 'I shall act as I have a right to act. I shall sing no longer "God Save the King" ' … I say here solemnly that the day England casts us off and despises our loyalty and allegiance, that day I will say: 'England, I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh'." James Chambers K.C., M.P., South Belfast, May 23, 1913.
He was one of the 10 signatories on the first page of the Ulster Covenant, as report in the book Ulster's stand for Union:
"When Carson had signed the Covenant he handed the silver pen to Londonderry, and the latter's name was followed in order by the signatures of the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Lord Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore (afterwards Primate of All Ireland), the Dean of Belfast (afterwards Bishop of Down), the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church, the President of the Methodist Conference, the ex-Chairman of the Congregational Union, Viscount Castlereagh, and Mr. James Chambers, M.P. for South Belfast; and the rest of the company,including the Right Hon. Thomas Sinclair and the veteran Sir William Ewart, as well as the members of the Corporation and other public authorities and boards, having attached their signatures to other sheets, the general public waiting outside were then admitted."
Chambers died in June 1917.