Robert Simpson (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Simpson often known as Bob Simpson was a unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in Ballymena
, Simpson studied medicine at Queen's University, Belfast before setting up his own practice. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) in 1952, and was selected as the party's candidate for Mid Antrim
. He won the seat, unopposed, at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
, and held it at each election thereafter, not facing a single opponent until 1969
.
A strong support of Terence O'Neill
's reforms, Simpson was appointed briefly as Additional Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister
, and then as the first Minister for Community Relations
in late 1969. He resigned from the freemasons and from the Orange Order in an attempt to appear impartial. In the role, he organised a series of dinner parties
with attendees from both nationalist and unionist backgrounds, and through these developed a friendship with Seamus Heaney
.
When Brian Faulkner
became Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
in 1971, Simpson was removed from his ministerial post and, the following year, Simpson resigned from the UUP. He spent the remainder of his life writing on medicine
, agriculture
and travel
, developing an arboretum
and organising the Ballymena Music Festival.
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 Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, Simpson studied medicine at Queen's University, Belfast before setting up his own practice. He joined 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 1952, and was selected as the party's candidate for Mid Antrim
Mid Antrim (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Mid Antrim was a constituency of the Northern Ireland House of Commons.The House of Commons Act , 1929 introduced first-past-the-post elections for 48 single-member constituencies .It was a single-member division of County Antrim represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland...
. He won the seat, unopposed, at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
, and held it at each election thereafter, not facing a single opponent until 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
.
A strong support of Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
's reforms, Simpson was appointed briefly as Additional Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the 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...
, and then as the first Minister for Community Relations
Minister for Community Relations
The Minister for Community Relations 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 1922 to 1972. The post was created in 1969 and lasted until 1972. It was vacant for a month in 1971,...
in late 1969. He resigned from the freemasons and from the Orange Order in an attempt to appear impartial. In the role, he organised a series of dinner parties
Dinner party
Dinner Party or The Dinner Party may refer to:* A type of party* The Dinner Party,an installation artwork by Judy Chicago* The Dinner Party , by Neil Simon* Dinner Party , by Pier Vittorio Tondelli...
with attendees from both nationalist and unionist backgrounds, and through these developed a friendship with Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
.
When Brian Faulkner
Brian Faulkner
Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972...
became Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
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...
in 1971, Simpson was removed from his ministerial post and, the following year, Simpson resigned from the UUP. He spent the remainder of his life writing on medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
, developing an arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
and organising the Ballymena Music Festival.