John William Nixon
Encyclopedia
John William Nixon, MBE
(1880 -11 May 1949) was a Unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in Graddum, County Cavan
, Nixon became a district inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary
, and transferred to its successor in the new state of Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC). By 1922, he was responsible for controlling access to the Roman Catholic Ardoyne
and "Bone" areas of Belfast
, and worked closely with the Specials.
Nationalist writer and activist Michael Farrell has alleged that during this period he led the Cromwell Club, an unofficial organisation of security officials responsible for killing several Catholics. These allegations, however, have not been independently confirmed and during his lifetime Nixon successfully sued the Derry Journal and a book publisher for libel. Nixon was awarded the MBE
in 1923 "... for services rendered by him during the troubled period."
In 1924, Nixon, long a member of the Orange Order, made a strongly unionist political speech at an Orange lodge. This contravened regulations, and he was dismissed on the orders of Prime Minister
James Craig
.
Nixon was elected to the Belfast Corporation
as an Independent Unionist
, but at the Northern Ireland general election, 1925
, he stood unsuccessfully as an Ulster Unionist in Belfast North
. In 1929
, running once again as an Independent Unionist, he was narrowly elected as the MP for Belfast Woodvale
. From September 1932 until the 1933 election
, he was the only opposition MP attending the Parliament. Around this time, he joined the Ulster Protestant League
, an organisation with a reputation for anti-Catholicism.
Nixon held his seat until his death in 1949, denying the allegations against him until the end of his life. Currently a team of researchers is purportedly trying to clear Nixon's name of the allegations.
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...
(1880 -11 May 1949) was a Unionist politician
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 Graddum, County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan 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 Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Nixon became a district inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary
Royal Irish Constabulary
The armed Royal Irish Constabulary was Ireland's major police force for most of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. A separate civic police force, the unarmed Dublin Metropolitan Police controlled the capital, and the cities of Derry and Belfast, originally with their own police...
, and transferred to its successor in the new state of Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC). By 1922, he was responsible for controlling access to the Roman Catholic Ardoyne
Ardoyne
Ardoyne is an Irish nationalist, working class and mainly Catholic district in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. It gained notoriety due to the large number of incidents during "The Troubles". It is home to approximately 20,000 inhabitants...
and "Bone" areas of 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...
, and worked closely with the Specials.
Nationalist writer and activist Michael Farrell has alleged that during this period he led the Cromwell Club, an unofficial organisation of security officials responsible for killing several Catholics. These allegations, however, have not been independently confirmed and during his lifetime Nixon successfully sued the Derry Journal and a book publisher for libel. Nixon was awarded the 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...
in 1923 "... for services rendered by him during the troubled period."
In 1924, Nixon, long a member of the Orange Order, made a strongly unionist political speech at an Orange lodge. This contravened regulations, and he was dismissed on the orders of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
James Craig
James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon, PC, PC , was a prominent Irish unionist politician, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland...
.
Nixon was elected to the Belfast Corporation
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
as an 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....
, but at the Northern Ireland general election, 1925
Northern Ireland general election, 1925
The Northern Ireland general election, 1925 was held on 3 April 1925. It was the second election to the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It saw significant losses for the Ulster Unionist Party, although they maintained their large majority. This was the last election for the Stormont parliament...
, he stood unsuccessfully as an Ulster Unionist in Belfast North
Belfast North (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast North was a borough constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 - 1929. It returned four MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:...
. In 1929
Northern Ireland general election, 1929
-References:*...
, running once again as an Independent Unionist, he was narrowly elected as the MP for Belfast Woodvale
Belfast Woodvale (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Woodvale was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Woodvale was a borough constituency comprising part of western Belfast...
. From September 1932 until the 1933 election
Northern Ireland general election, 1933
-References:*...
, he was the only opposition MP attending the Parliament. Around this time, he joined the Ulster Protestant League
Ulster Protestant League (1931)
The Ulster Protestant League was a loyalist organisation in Northern Ireland.The organisation was established in 1931 by a group inspired in part by the example of the Scottish Protestant League...
, an organisation with a reputation for anti-Catholicism.
Nixon held his seat until his death in 1949, denying the allegations against him until the end of his life. Currently a team of researchers is purportedly trying to clear Nixon's name of the allegations.