Edward James Saunderson
Encyclopedia
Edward James Saunderson PC
, JP
, DL
(1 October 1837 – 21 October 1906) was an Irish unionist politician
.
He was born at Castle Saunderson
, County Cavan
. He was the son of Colonel Alexander Saunderson, Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cavan (d. 1857), his mother being a daughter of the 6th Baron Farnham
. The Irish Saundersons were a 17th century branch of an old family, originally of Durham
; a Lincolnshire branch, the Saundersons of Saxby
, held the titles of Viscount Castleton (Irish: c. 1628) and Baron Saunderson (British: c. 1714) up to 1723.
Edward Saunderson was educated abroad, and, having succeeded to the Cavan estates, married in 1865 a daughter of the 3rd Baron Ventry, and in the same year was elected MP. for Cavan
as a Palmerstonian
Liberal
. He lost his seat in 1874, and by 1885, when he again entered parliament for North Armagh
, he had become a prominent Orangeman and a Conservative; the question of Irish home rule had now come to the front, and Saunderson's political career as a representative of Irish Unionist had begun.
He had entered the Cavan militia (4th battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
) in 1862, was later made major (1875), became colonel in 1886 and was in command of the battalion from 1891 to 1893. In March 1893, Saunderson was one of the signatories of the manifesto of the Ulster Defence Union
, launched to organize resistance to the Second Home Rule Bill
of 1893.
Almost from the first, Saunderson became a leader of the Irish Unionist party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, his uncompromising speeches being full of force and humour. In 1898 his services were recognized by his being made a privy councillor
. He died of pneumonia in 1906.
Saunderson was Justice of the Peace
and Deputy Lieutenant for Cavan, and was appointed High Sheriff of Armagh
in 1859.
In private life Colonel Saunderson was well known as a keen yacht
sman; his character was deeply marked by stern religious feeling, and his fine sincerity, while endearing him to his friends, never lost him the respect of his opponents.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(1 October 1837 – 21 October 1906) was an Irish unionist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
He was born at Castle Saunderson
Castle Saunderson
Castle Saunderson is a castle near Belturbet, County Cavan, Ireland. It was the family seat of the Saunderson family, who acquired the original castle in 1573 during the Ulster plantation. The original castle was inhabited by the O'Reillys of Breffni and formerly known as Breffni Castle since the...
, County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was the son of Colonel Alexander Saunderson, 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 Cavan (d. 1857), his mother being a daughter of the 6th Baron Farnham
Henry Maxwell, 6th Baron Farnham
The Reverend Henry Maxwell, 6th Baron Farnham was an Irish peer and Church of Ireland clergyman.He was the son of Henry Maxwell, Bishop of Meath, and grandson of John Maxwell, 1st Baron Farnham...
. The Irish Saundersons were a 17th century branch of an old family, originally of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
; a Lincolnshire branch, the Saundersons of Saxby
Saxby, Lincolnshire
Saxby is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 237. It is north of Lincoln just off the A15....
, held the titles of Viscount Castleton (Irish: c. 1628) and Baron Saunderson (British: c. 1714) up to 1723.
Edward Saunderson was educated abroad, and, having succeeded to the Cavan estates, married in 1865 a daughter of the 3rd Baron Ventry, and in the same year was elected MP. for Cavan
Cavan (UK Parliament constituency)
Cavan was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.-Members of Parliament:...
as a Palmerstonian
Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC , known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century...
Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
. He lost his seat in 1874, and by 1885, when he again entered parliament for North Armagh
North Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
North Armagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and boundary changes:This constituency comprised the northern part of County Armagh....
, he had become a prominent Orangeman and a Conservative; the question of Irish home rule had now come to the front, and Saunderson's political career as a representative of Irish Unionist had begun.
He had entered the Cavan militia (4th battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
Royal Irish Fusiliers
The Royal Irish Fusiliers was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of the 87th Regiment of Foot and the 89th Regiment of Foot in 1881. The regiment's first title in 1881 was Princess Victoria's , changed in 1920 to The Royal Irish Fusiliers...
) in 1862, was later made major (1875), became colonel in 1886 and was in command of the battalion from 1891 to 1893. In March 1893, Saunderson was one of the signatories of the manifesto of the Ulster Defence Union
Ulster Defence Union
The Ulster Defence Union was a Unionist organization formed in 1893 to oppose the Irish Home Rule movement, following a rally at the Ulster Hall, Belfast. Its principal aim was to resist the Second Home Rule Bill of 1893....
, launched to organize resistance to the Second Home Rule Bill
Irish Government Bill 1893
The Government of Ireland Bill 1893 was the second attempt made by William Ewart Gladstone, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to enact a system of home rule for Ireland...
of 1893.
Almost from the first, Saunderson became a leader of the Irish Unionist party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, his uncompromising speeches being full of force and humour. In 1898 his services were recognized by his being made a privy councillor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. He died of pneumonia in 1906.
Saunderson was Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and Deputy Lieutenant for Cavan, and was appointed High Sheriff of Armagh
High Sheriff of Armagh
The High Sheriff of Armagh is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Armagh. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
in 1859.
In private life Colonel Saunderson was well known as a keen yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
sman; his character was deeply marked by stern religious feeling, and his fine sincerity, while endearing him to his friends, never lost him the respect of his opponents.