Sir James Henry Norritt (1887 – 21 July 1963) was a Northern Irish businessman who was
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairperson of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 60 councillors. The Lord Mayor also serves as the representative of the city of Belfast, welcoming guests from across the Un ...
for the
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it led unionist opposition to the Irish Home Rule movem ...
from 1951 to 1953. His mayoralty made him an ex-officio member of the
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
In practice the Sen ...
.
Norritt was born in
Belfast
Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...
in 1887, the son of James Norritt and Elizabeth Best.
He began his career in the Belfast shipbuilders
Harland and Wolff
Harland & Wolff is a British shipbuilding company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It specialises in ship repair, shipbuilding and offshore construction. Harland & Wolff is famous for having built the majority of the ocean liners for the W ...
, working his way to an executive position. From 1930 to 1962, he worked for the beverage company
Cantrell and Cochrane
C&C Group plc (known prior to its flotation as Cantrell & Cochrane Limited) is an Irish manufacturer, marketer and distributor of alcoholic drinks, particularly cider, and soft drinks. It has production facilities across Ireland, Great Britain ...
before retiring.
He was
knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in the
1953 Coronation Honours List.
References
External links
Belfast City Government: Lord Mayors
1887 births
1963 deaths
Knights Bachelor
High Sheriffs of Belfast
Lord Mayors of Belfast
Members of the Senate of Northern Ireland 1949–1953
Ulster Unionist Party members of the Senate of Northern Ireland
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