Robert Porter (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Wilson Porter PC (NI)
, QC
(born 23 December 1923) is a former politician
and barrister
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in Derry
, Porter studied at Foyle College and Queen's University Belfast before in 1943 joining the Royal Air Force
, and serving until 1946. From 1950 to 1956, he served with the Royal Artillery
.
Porter was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1965, and also became active in the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP). In 1966, he was elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland
representing Queen's University. In January 1969, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, after which he was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services. In March, he became the Minister of Home Affairs
, and was also appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
. Within the Cabinet, he was regarded as a moderate
, and declared that a broadening of the local government
franchise called for primarily by nationalists was inevitable.
Porter's seat was abolished for the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
, but he was able to win the new Lagan Valley
seat. He resigned as Minister of Home Affairs in August 1970. He claimed to have resigned due to ill health, but he later complained that he had not been consulted about the imposition of a military curfew
on the Falls Road in July. He resigned from the UUP itself in June 1972, to join the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
.
From 1978 until 1995, Porter was a judge of the county courts.
Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in Northern Ireland. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
, 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...
(born 23 December 1923) is a former politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
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 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"...
, Porter studied at Foyle College and Queen's University Belfast before in 1943 joining the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and serving until 1946. From 1950 to 1956, he served with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
.
Porter was appointed Queen's Counsel
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...
in 1965, and also became active in the 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...
(UUP). In 1966, he was elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
representing Queen's University. In January 1969, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, after which he was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services. In March, he became the Minister of Home Affairs
Minister of Home Affairs (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Home Affairs was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972...
, and was also appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in Northern Ireland. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
. Within the Cabinet, he was regarded as a moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
, and declared that a broadening of the local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
franchise called for primarily by nationalists was inevitable.
Porter's seat was abolished for the Northern Ireland general election, 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
, but he was able to win the new Lagan Valley
Lagan Valley (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Lagan Valley was a single-member county constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:Before 1969, the area formed part of the Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies of Mid Down and Iveagh....
seat. He resigned as Minister of Home Affairs in August 1970. He claimed to have resigned due to ill health, but he later complained that he had not been consulted about the imposition of a military curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
on the Falls Road in July. He resigned from the UUP itself in June 1972, to join the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
.
From 1978 until 1995, Porter was a judge of the county courts.