Robert Dorman
Encyclopedia
Robert Dorman often known as Bob Dorman, was an Irish
socialist activist.
Dorman was born in Dublin, and was brought up as a Quaker. He served with the Royal Navy
and with the Young Men's Christian Association, later working in insurance. Around 1885, he was living in Derry
and was already regarded as one of the most prominent socialists in the city. Dorman later moved back to Dublin and joined the Independent Labour Party
. There, he co-signed the letter which invited James Connolly
to become the organiser of the Dublin Socialist Society.
Dorman seconded the proposal to re-form the Dublin Socialist Society as the Irish Socialist Republican Party
(IRSP), and spoke alongside Connolly at the party's official launch, on the Dublin Custom House
steps. He moved to Limerick
later in the year, but was unable to establish a branch of the party there, and resigned from the IRSP in June 1897.
Dorman remained a Christian socialist, and continued to give public speeches when he moved to Belfast
in 1912. When the Belfast Labour Party
was established, he became active in it and when, in 1924, it was reconstituted as the Northern Ireland Labour Party
(NILP), he was elected as its first vice-president. Later in the year, he stood to succeed Joseph Davison
as alderman
for the Court ward on the Belfast Corporation, but he was defeated by independent Unionist
John William Nixon
. The Manchester Guardian reported that several women supporting Nixon were arrested on the day of the election, on charges of personation
.
In 1925, Dorman was elected as the first NILP member of the Senate of Northern Ireland
. He served until 1933, when he lost his seat due to the reduced number of NILP members in the Commons. He stood again in 1935, following the death of George Clark
, but was defeated by the Ulster Unionist Party
candidate William Gibson
by 35 votes to 5.
Dorman was regarded as an expert on Irish literature
of the nineteenth century, and was also known as an advocate of temperance. During the 1930s, he campaigned for the reunification of Ireland
, and supported Nationalist Party
candidates in several elections. Dorman visited Liverpool
in mid-1937 to attend the funeral of his brother, but he died suddenly, while addressing a religious meeting, and was buried alongside him.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
socialist activist.
Dorman was born in Dublin, and was brought up as a Quaker. He served with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and with the Young Men's Christian Association, later working in insurance. Around 1885, he was living 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"...
and was already regarded as one of the most prominent socialists in the city. Dorman later moved back to Dublin and joined the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
. There, he co-signed the letter which invited James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
to become the organiser of the Dublin Socialist Society.
Dorman seconded the proposal to re-form the Dublin Socialist Society as the Irish Socialist Republican Party
Irish Socialist Republican Party
The Irish Socialist Republican Party was a pivotal Irish political party founded in 1896 by James Connolly. Its aim was to establish an Irish workers' republic...
(IRSP), and spoke alongside Connolly at the party's official launch, on the Dublin Custom House
The Custom House
The Custom House is a neoclassical 18th century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government...
steps. He moved to Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
later in the year, but was unable to establish a branch of the party there, and resigned from the IRSP in June 1897.
Dorman remained a Christian socialist, and continued to give public speeches when he moved to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1912. When the Belfast Labour Party
Belfast Labour Party
The Belfast Labour Party was a political party in Belfast, Ireland from 1892 until 1924.The first socialist party in Ireland, it was founded in 1892, affiliated to the British Labour Representation Committee in 1900 and remained attached to the UK Labour Party which subsequently evolved.Labour ran...
was established, he became active in it and when, in 1924, it was reconstituted as the Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Labour Party
The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
(NILP), he was elected as its first vice-president. Later in the year, he stood to succeed Joseph Davison
Joseph Davison
Sir Joseph Davison was a prominent Northern Irish Unionist politician.He was knighted in the Honours for the Opening of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1921...
as alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for the Court ward on the Belfast Corporation, but he was defeated by independent Unionist
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
John William Nixon
John William Nixon
John William Nixon, MBE was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Graddum, County Cavan, Nixon became a district inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and transferred to its successor in the new state of Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary...
. The Manchester Guardian reported that several women supporting Nixon were arrested on the day of the election, on charges of personation
Personation
Personation is a term used in law for the specific kind of voter fraud where an individual votes in an election, whilst pretending to be a different elector....
.
In 1925, Dorman was elected as the first NILP 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:...
. He served until 1933, when he lost his seat due to the reduced number of NILP members in the Commons. He stood again in 1935, following the death of George Clark
Sir George Clark, 1st Baronet
Sir George Smith Clark, 1st Baronet DL was a businessman and politician in Northern Ireland. George S. Clark was born in Paisley, Scotland the second son of thread manufacturer James Clark, and Jane Smith; both his parents were Scottish Presbyterians.-Early life:Clark was educated at Merchiston...
, but was defeated by 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...
candidate William Gibson
William Gibson (Northern Irish politician)
William Gibson was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Gibson studied at the Royal University of Ireland before becoming a general practitioner. He was elected to local posts in Belfast; for example, becoming a Poor Law Guardian for Ballymacarrett in 1895...
by 35 votes to 5.
Dorman was regarded as an expert on Irish literature
Irish literature
For a comparatively small island, Ireland has made a disproportionately large contribution to world literature. Irish literature encompasses the Irish and English languages.-The beginning of writing in Irish:...
of the nineteenth century, and was also known as an advocate of temperance. During the 1930s, he campaigned for the reunification of Ireland
United Ireland
A united Ireland is the term used to refer to the idea of a sovereign state which covers all of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. The island of Ireland includes the territory of two independent sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland, which covers 26 counties of the island, and the...
, and supported Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....
candidates in several elections. Dorman visited Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in mid-1937 to attend the funeral of his brother, but he died suddenly, while addressing a religious meeting, and was buried alongside him.