Robert Babington
Encyclopedia
Robert John Babington, DSC
, QC
(9 April 1920 – 17 September 2010) was an Ulster Unionist Party
politician, who served as the member of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
for North Down
from 1969 to 1972, and a county court judge. He was born in Dublin.
in the Second World War, earning the Distinguished Service Cross
, before embarking on a career in law and politics in Northern Ireland
. He married Elizabeth Alton, the daughter of Ernest Alton
, in 1952; the couple had had two sons and a daughter.
in favour of unionists in employment, Babington became known as a moderate within the UUP.
He supported the principle of full and equal voting rights during his 1969 campaign
and also advocated the expulsion of any party member who refused to follow the edicts of the British government fully. He was also a staunch critic of any Unionist involvement in violence and a vocal opponent of Ulster nationalism
. The collapse of the Parliament was the effective end of Babington's career in politics and he left the Orange Order in 1973.
judge in 1974, retiring in 1992.
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
, QC
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...
(9 April 1920 – 17 September 2010) was an Ulster Unionist Party
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, who served as the member of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
House of Commons of Northern Ireland
The House of Commons of Northern Ireland was the lower house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. The upper house in the bicameral parliament was called the Senate. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act...
for North Down
North Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
North Down was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:North Down was a county constituency comprising part of northern County Down, immediately south east of Belfast. It was created when the House of Commons Act 1929 introduced first-past-the-post elections throughout...
from 1969 to 1972, and a county court judge. He was born in Dublin.
Early life
The son of David and Alice Babington, Robert Babington was educated at Saint Columba's College, Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. He served the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the Second World War, earning the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
, before embarking on a career in law and politics 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...
. He married Elizabeth Alton, the daughter of Ernest Alton
Ernest Alton
Ernest Henry Alton was an Irish university professor and an independent Teachta Dála and Senator.Born in County Westmeath, Alton graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1896 with honours in classics and philosophy...
, in 1952; the couple had had two sons and a daughter.
Politics
Although he argued in 1961 in favour of discriminationDiscrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
in favour of unionists in employment, Babington became known as a moderate within the UUP.
He supported the principle of full and equal voting rights during his 1969 campaign
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
and also advocated the expulsion of any party member who refused to follow the edicts of the British government fully. He was also a staunch critic of any Unionist involvement in violence and a vocal opponent of Ulster nationalism
Ulster nationalism
Ulster nationalism is the name given to a school of thought in Northern Irish politics that seeks the independence of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom without becoming part of the Republic of Ireland, thereby becoming an independent sovereign state separate from England, Scotland and Wales...
. The collapse of the Parliament was the effective end of Babington's career in politics and he left the Orange Order in 1973.
Law
Babington was called to the bar in 1947 and was made a QC in 1965. He was appointed as a county courtCounty Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
judge in 1974, retiring in 1992.