Thomas Somerset (Northern Ireland politician)
Sir Thomas Somserset | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for North Belfast | |
| In office 1929–1945 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas McConnell |
| Succeeded by | William Frederick Neill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 December 1870 Largymore, County Down, Ireland |
| Died | 16 June 1947 (aged 76) Upper Malone Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Occupation | Politician and industrialist |
Sir Thomas Somerset DL (14 December 1870 – 16 June 1947) was an industrialist and Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament (MP) for North Belfast from 1929 to 1945.
Life and career
[edit]Thomas Somerset was the son of an engineer, James Somerset.[1] Somerset was a native of Largymore, County Down.[2] He established Thomas Somerset and Co. Ltd., linen manufacturers in 1891. This enterprise proved profitable, with factories at Belfast, Dublin, Greyabbey and Portaferry, giving employment to over 1,200 people.[3][4] He was also a director of Commercial Insurance Co. of Ireland, Ltd., and Chairman of the Northern Counties Committee of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.[5][2]
Somerset was elected MP for North Belfast in 1929, holding his seat to 1945.[5][6] He was knighted in 1936.[5] Somerset died on 16 June 1947 at his home at The Weir on the Upper Malone Road, South Belfast.[1]
Family
[edit]Somerset married Ethel Parker of Cheshire and had two children, a son and daughter.[citation needed]
Reference
[edit]- ^ a b "Death of Sir Thos. Somerset: Former N. Belfast• M.P". Belfast Telegraph. 16 June 1947. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Sir Thomas Somerset". Belfast Telegraph. 1 January 1944. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Smithfield weaving factory". Belfast News-Letter. 24 February 1915. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Thomas Somerset & Co., who already own linen factories in Belfast, Portaferry, and Greyabbey. In those three factories upwards of 1,200 workers are employed
- ^ Lawler, Mark (19 August 2013). "In the lead-up to the Lockout". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Harbinson, John F. (1973). The Ulster Unionist Party, 1882–1973. Belfast: Blackstaff Press. p. 181. ISBN 0856400769.
- ^ Whyte, Nicholas (12 January 2005). "North Belfast 1922-1949". ARK. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
External links
[edit]
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