Charles Curtis Craig
Encyclopedia
Charles Curtis Craig was an Irish Unionst
and later Ulster Unionist
politician. He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for constituencies in County Antrim
from 1903 to 1929, taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
. The son of a self-made millionaire whisky distiller, among his brothers was Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister, The Viscount Craigavon, PC
.
Craig first stood for Parliament
at a by-election
in 1903 for the South Antrim
constituency, after the sitting Unionist MP William Ellison-Macartney
had left the Commons to take up the post of Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint
. He defeated a Russellite
opponent to win the seat, and held it through four subsequent general elections until the constituency was abolished for the 1922 general election
.
He was then elected as one of the two MPs for the re-established Antrim constituency
, and held that seat until he retired from Parliament at the 1929 general election
.
Craig was sworn as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
on 5 December 1922, one of two new members admitted on the last day before the Anglo-Irish Treaty
came into effect, on 6 December 1922. Although it was never formally abolished, the Irish Privy Council effectively ceased to exist with the creation of the Irish Free State
, and on 12 December, ten members were sworn of a new Privy Council of Northern Ireland
. Craig was not one of those first appointments, but was appointed on 27 Sep 1923 as the thirteenth member of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland.
In the 1922–1924 Conservative Government, led by Andrew Bonar Law and then Stanley Baldwin
, Curtis was appointed in February 1923 as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions
, and held that post until first Labour government took office in January 1924.
Irish Unionist Party
The Irish Unionist Alliance was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in 1891 to oppose plans for Gladstonian and Parnellite Home Rule for Ireland. The party was led for much of its life by Colonel Edward James Saunderson and later by the William St John Brodrick, Earl of Midleton...
and later Ulster Unionist
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. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for constituencies in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
from 1903 to 1929, taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. The son of a self-made millionaire whisky distiller, among his brothers was Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister, The Viscount Craigavon, PC
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...
.
Craig first stood for Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1903 for the South Antrim
South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
South Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:From 1885, this constituency was one of four county divisions of the former Antrim constituency...
constituency, after the sitting Unionist MP William Ellison-Macartney
William Ellison-Macartney
Sir William Grey Ellison-Macartney, KCMG was a British politician, who also served as the Governor of the Australian states of Tasmania and Western Australia.-Early life:...
had left the Commons to take up the post of Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
. He defeated a Russellite
Russellite Unionist
The Russellite group, were the followers of Thomas Wallace Russell an Irish political leader of the early twentieth century.Russell was the Liberal Unionist MP for South Tyrone. He and some followers left the party in February 1904. They favoured a policy of compulsory land purchase...
opponent to win the seat, and held it through four subsequent general elections until the constituency was abolished for the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
.
He was then elected as one of the two MPs for the re-established Antrim constituency
Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
Antrim is former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922-1950.-Boundaries:...
, and held that seat until he retired from Parliament at the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
.
Craig was sworn as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
on 5 December 1922, one of two new members admitted on the last day before the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
came into effect, on 6 December 1922. Although it was never formally abolished, the Irish Privy Council effectively ceased to exist with the creation of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
, and on 12 December, ten members were sworn of a new 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....
. Craig was not one of those first appointments, but was appointed on 27 Sep 1923 as the thirteenth member of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland.
In the 1922–1924 Conservative Government, led by Andrew Bonar Law and then Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, Curtis was appointed in February 1923 as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions was a junior Ministerial office at Parliamentary Secretary rank in the United Kingdom Government, supporting the Minister for Pensions. It was established in 1916 and filled intermittently until 1932...
, and held that post until first Labour government took office in January 1924.