Samuel Hall-Thompson
Encyclopedia
Lt-Col. Samuel Hall-Thompson (1885 - 26 October 1954) was a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland
.
Hall-Thompson was born in Crawfordsburn
and studied at Dulwich College
. His father, Rt. Hon. Robert Thompson
, DL, was also an MP. He went in to business and, in 1929, served as High Sheriff of Belfast
.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1929
, Hall-Thompson was elected as the Ulster Unionist Party
Member of Parliament for Belfast Clifton
. In 1939, he was appointed Chief Ordnance Officer for Northern Ireland, and from 1944 until 1950 he served as Minister of Education
. This position carried with it membership of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
. Hall-Thompson suffered criticism from some Unionists for appearing to compromise with the Roman Catholic Church
while in this position. He was not a member of the Orange Order.
In 1950, Hall-Thompson was appointed Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons. At the 1953 general election
, he was defeated by Norman Porter
, an independent Unionist
who had been a critic of Hall-Thompson.
His son, Lloyd Hall-Thompson
, later became an MP 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...
.
Hall-Thompson was born in Crawfordsburn
Crawfordsburn
Crawfordsburn is a small picturesque village in County Down, Northern Ireland. The village, which is now effectively a commuter suburb, lies between Holywood and Bangor to the north of the A2 road, about 4 km west of Bangor town centre. Bounded to the north and north east by Crawfordsburn...
and studied at Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
. His father, Rt. Hon. Robert Thompson
Robert Thompson (politician)
Robert Thompson PC , JP, DL was a Member of Parliament from Northern Ireland. Educated at Wellington Academy, Belfast, he later entered the family firm of Lindsay, Thompson & Co. Ltd., flax spinners...
, DL, was also an MP. He went in to business and, in 1929, served as High Sheriff of Belfast
High Sheriff of Belfast
The High Sheriff of Belfast is a High Sheriff title and position which was created in 1900 under the Local Government Act 1898, with Sir James Henderson the first holder. It is a largely ceremonial position currently held by Ian Adamson, who took office in January 2011...
.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1929
Northern Ireland general election, 1929
-References:*...
, Hall-Thompson was elected as 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...
Member of Parliament for Belfast Clifton
Belfast Clifton (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Clifton was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Clifton was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
. In 1939, he was appointed Chief Ordnance Officer for Northern Ireland, and from 1944 until 1950 he served as Minister of Education
Minister of Education (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Education 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 1921 to 1972.-References:*...
. This position carried with it membership of 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....
. Hall-Thompson suffered criticism from some Unionists for appearing to compromise with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
while in this position. He was not a member of the Orange Order.
In 1950, Hall-Thompson was appointed Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons. At the 1953 general election
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
, he was defeated by Norman Porter
Norman Porter
Norman Porter was a loyalist politician in Northern Ireland.A lay preacher, an Orangeman, an Apprentice Boy and a member of the Royal Black Institution, Porter became the leader of the National Union of Protestants in Northern Ireland in 1948. Ian Paisley joined the Union in about 1950, but left...
, an 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....
who had been a critic of Hall-Thompson.
His son, Lloyd Hall-Thompson
Lloyd Hall-Thompson
Robert Lloyd Hall-Thompson TD , known as Lloyd Hall-Thompson, was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Belfast, Hall-Thompson was the son of Samuel Hall-Thompson, and grandson of Rt. Hon. Robert Thompson MP. He studied at Campbell College in Belfast and joined the Ulster Unionist...
, later became an MP in Northern Ireland.