Sir Thomas Dixon, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas James Dixon, 2nd Baronet PC (NI)
(29 May 1868 – 10 May 1950), was a Northern Ireland
politician.
Dixon was the eldest son of Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet
, Lord Mayor of Belfast
. He succeeded his father as second Baronet in 1907. Dixon was a Member of the Senate of Northern Ireland
from 1924 to 1950 and was admitted to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
in 1931. He served as High Sheriff of Antrim
in 1912 and of County Down
in 1913 and was Lord Lieutenant of Belfast
between 1924 and 1950.
Dixon married Edith
, daughter of Stewart Clark, in 1906. He died in May 1950, aged 81, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his younger brother Herbert
, who had already been elevated to the peerage as Baron Glentoran
.
In 1919 Dixon, a prosperous Ulster businessman, purchased Wilmont House and its estates in Belfast for £21,500. Lady Dixon became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(DBE) for her work for the armed forces during World War I
. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
, was a guest in 1935 and General Collins of the United States Army
was billeted at Wilmont House during World War II
. In 1959 Wilmont House and the estate was presented to Belfast Corporation “for the greatest good of the citizens of the City of Belfast” by Lady Dixon in memory of her husband. The popular Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
opened the same year.
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....
(29 May 1868 – 10 May 1950), was a 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...
politician.
Dixon was the eldest son of Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet
Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet
Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet PC was an Irish politician.Dixon was the son of Thomas Dixon of Larne, County Antrim. He served as Mayor of Belfast in 1892 and as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1893 and from 1901 to 1903 and from 1905 to 1906. In 1902 he was created a Baronet, of Ballymenock in the County...
, Lord Mayor of Belfast
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
. He succeeded his father as second Baronet in 1907. Dixon was a Member of the Senate of Northern Ireland
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...
from 1924 to 1950 and was admitted 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....
in 1931. He served as High Sheriff of Antrim
High Sheriff of Antrim
The High Sheriff of Antrim is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Antrim. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
in 1912 and of County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
in 1913 and was Lord Lieutenant of Belfast
Lord Lieutenant of Belfast
The Lord Lieutenant of Belfast is the official representative of the Queen for the 'County Borough of Belfast', Northern Ireland. The current Lord Lieutenant is Dame Mary Peters who was appointed in August 2009. The position was first created in 1900 and was held by the Marquess of Londonderry...
between 1924 and 1950.
Dixon married Edith
Edith Dixon
Dame Edith Stewart Dixon, Lady Dixon, DBE , née Edith Stewart Clark, was a Northern Irish philanthropist....
, daughter of Stewart Clark, in 1906. He died in May 1950, aged 81, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his younger brother Herbert
Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran
Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran OBE PC was a Northern Ireland Unionist politician.He was born in Belfast, the fourth son of Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet, and educated at Harrow and Sandhurst, being commissioned into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, with which regiment he served in the Second...
, who had already been elevated to the peerage as Baron Glentoran
Baron Glentoran
Baron Glentoran, of Ballyalloly in the County of Down, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on July 8, 1939 for the Unionist politician Herbert Dixon. In 1950 he also succeeded his elder brother as third Baronet, of Ballymenock . His son, the second Baron, was also a...
.
In 1919 Dixon, a prosperous Ulster businessman, purchased Wilmont House and its estates in Belfast for £21,500. Lady Dixon became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
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...
(DBE) for her work for the armed forces during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was a soldier and member of the British Royal Family, the third son of George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary....
, was a guest in 1935 and General Collins of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
was billeted at Wilmont House during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1959 Wilmont House and the estate was presented to Belfast Corporation “for the greatest good of the citizens of the City of Belfast” by Lady Dixon in memory of her husband. The popular Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is a park in South Belfast, Northern Ireland, covering almost and is accessible from the Upper Malone Road. It includes meadows, woodland, riverside fields, formal Rose gardens, a walled garden and a Japanese garden, as well as a children's playground, coffee...
opened the same year.