Sir Joseph Davison (1868 – 15 July 1948) was a prominent Northern Irish Unionist politician. 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 Honours for the Opening of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1921. In 1923, Davison stood as 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 ...

candidate in a by-election in Belfast West to the

Northern Ireland House of Commons The House of Commons of Northern Ireland was the lower house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created under the ''Government of Ireland Act 1920''. The upper house in the bicameral parliament was called the Senate. It was abolished wit ...

, but was beaten by

independent Unionist Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for British unionism (not to be confused with trade unionism). It is most popularly associated with candidates in electi ...

Philip James Woods Colonel Philip James Woods (23 September 1880 – 12 September 1961) was an independent unionist politician in Northern Ireland, member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons. He was a colonel in the Royal Irish Rifles, seeing action on the ...

. In 1933, writing in the ''

Northern Whig The ''Northern Whig'' (from 1919 the ''Northern Whig and Belfast Post'') was a daily regional newspaper in Ireland which was first published in 1824 in Belfast when it was founded by Francis Dalzell Finlay. It was published twice weekly, Monday ...

'', Davison stated "...it is time Protestant employers of Northern Ireland realised that whenever a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

is brought into their employment it means one

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

vote less... I suggest the slogan should be 'Protestants employ Protestants'". By 1935, Davison was the County Grand Master of the

Orange Order The Loyal Orange Institution, commonly known as the Orange Order, is an international Protestant fraternal order based in Northern Ireland and primarily associated with Ulster Protestants, particularly those of Ulster Scots heritage. It also ...

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 ...

. When

Prime Minister of Northern Ireland The prime minister of Northern Ireland was the head of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920; however, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as with governors- ...

James Craig attempted to ban all marches from 18 June, Davison led the objections, and the ban was lifted within days. In 1935, Davison was elected to 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 ...

. He served as

Deputy Speaker The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

from 1936 until 1937.The Northern Ireland Senate, 1921-72
/ref> In 1940, he was appointed to the

Privy Council of Northern Ireland The Privy Council of Northern Ireland is 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 Ireland. The council was created in 1922 as ...

. He was then Deputy Leader of the Senate and Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister from 1941 until his death. Also in 1941, Davison was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister, serving in this post until his death.The Government of Northern Ireland
/ref> Sir Joseph Davison became Grand Master of the

Orange Institution The Loyal Orange Institution, commonly known as the Orange Order, is an international Protestant fraternal order based in Northern Ireland and primarily associated with Ulster Protestants, particularly those of Ulster Scots heritage. It als ...

of Ireland by 1941, serving until his death in 1948.

References

External links

* 1868 births 1948 deaths High Sheriffs of Belfast Members of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland Members of the Senate of Northern Ireland 1933–1937 Members of the Senate of Northern Ireland 1937–1941 Members of the Senate of Northern Ireland 1941–1945 Members of the Senate of Northern Ireland 1945–1949 Northern Ireland junior government ministers (Parliament of Northern Ireland) Ulster Unionist Party members of the Senate of Northern Ireland Grand Masters of the Orange Order Knights Bachelor {{Parliament-of-Northern-Ireland-member-stub