William Gibson was a unionist politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 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...

.

Gibson studied at the Royal University of Ireland

Royal University of Ireland

The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the University Education Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on April 27, 1880 and examinations were opened to candidates irrespective of...

 before becoming a general practitioner

General practitioner

A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...

. He was elected to local posts in Belfast; for example, becoming a Poor Law Guardian for Ballymacarrett

Ballymacarrett

Ballymacarrett or Ballymacarret is the name of both a townland and electoral ward in Belfast. The townland is in County Down and the electoral ward is part of the Pottinger district electoral area of Belfast City Council....

 in 1895. He was the first commander of the 3rd East Belfast Regiment of the Ulster Volunteers, and in the early 1910s served as Honorary Secretary of the Ulster Unionist Council.

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...

 in 1935, Gibson was selected 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...

 candidate for 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:...

, and he defeated Robert Dorman

Robert Dorman

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...

, his 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...

opponent, by 35 votes to 5. He was appointed as a Deputy Speaker in 1941, but resigned from the Senate the following year.