James Wood (17 July 1867 – 31 October 1936) was an Irish land refomer and, as a

Russellite Unionist The Russellite group were the followers of Thomas Wallace Russell, an Irish political leader of the early twentieth century. Russell was the Liberal Unionist MP for South Tyrone. He and some followers left the party in February 1904. They favou ...

, was a

Member of the United Kingdom Parliament In the United Kingdom, a member of Parliament (MP) is an individual elected to serve in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Electoral system All 650 members of the UK House of Commons are elected using the first-past- ...

(MP) for East Down. Supported by what the Unionist leader

Edward Carson Edward Henry Carson, 1st Baron Carson, Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, PC, Privy Council of Ireland, PC (Ire) (9 February 1854 – 22 October 1935), from 1900 to 1921 known as Sir Edward Carson, was an Unionism in Ireland, Irish u ...

described as "an unholy alliance of Catholics and Protestants", he was elected as a Russellite Unionist MP for the East Down constituency in a 1902 by-election, defeating Carson's candidate, the local landlord Colonel R.H. Wallace of Myra Castle. The victory boosted Thomas Russell's campaign for compulsory, and assisted, land sales to tenants, which won a measure of success in the Wyndham Land Act of 1903. Wood, standing as a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

, lost his seat at the 1906 general election to the Unionst James Craig. He lost again to Craig in the January 1910 general election. On his death, the ''

Irish News Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

'' described him as "unsparing in his efforts on behalf of the downtrodden small farmers under the regime of landlordism".

External links

* 1865 births 1936 deaths Russellite Unionist MPs Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Down constituencies (1801–1922) UK MPs 1900–1906 {{Ireland-UK-MP-stub