Edward Carson
HMSO image

The Right Honourable Edward Henry Carson, Baron Carson, PC (February 9, 1854 – October 22, 1935) was a leader of the Irish Unionists, a Barrister and a Judge. Image File history File links Sir Edward Carson - leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (1910-1921) This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ... Image File history File links Sir Edward Carson - leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (1910-1921) This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ... Her Majestys Stationery Office (usually abbreviated as HMSO) is part of the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom. ... The Right Honourable (abbreviated The Rt Hon. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... The legal profession in England and Wales is divided between solicitors and barristers. ... A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court. ...

Early life

Carson was from a wealthy Dublin Protestant family. He was educated at Portarlington School and Trinity College, Dublin where he read law, and was an active member of the College Historical Society. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1877. He soon gained a reputation for fearsome advocacy and supreme legal ability. He was made a Queen's Counsel in 1889. He began a political career in 1892 when he was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland on June 20, although he was not then in the House of Commons. He was elected as MP for the University of Dublin in the 1892 general election for the Conservatives, although they lost the election. He was admitted to the English Bar by The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 1893 and from then on mainly practised in London. He was appointed Solicitor-General for England on May 7, 1900, receiving an ex officio knighthood. He served in this position until the Conservative government resigned in December 1905, when he was rewarded with membership of the Privy Council. Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, located near the midpoint of Irelands east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. ... The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. ... Portarlington (Cúil an tSúdaire in Irish, meaning Tanners Corner) is a town in County Laois, straddling the border with County Offaly in the midlands of Ireland. ... The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin or more commonly Trinity College, Dublin was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ... The College Historical Society (commonly known as ) was founded in Trinity College in 1770 and traces its creation to the philosopher Edmund Burke. ... A bar association is a body of lawyers who, in some jurisdictions, are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Queens Counsel (postnominal QC), during the reign of a male Sovereign known as Kings Counsel (KC), are barristers or, in Scotland, advocates appointed by letters patent to be one of Her Majestys Counsel learned in the law. They do not constitute a separate order or degree of... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... The Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court around the Royal Courts of Justice in London. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7,421,328 and a metropolitan area population of between 12 and 14 million. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 1900 (MCM) is a common year starting on Monday. ... This page includes English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations such as . ... The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. ... The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the centre-right in the United Kingdom. ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ...

Wilde trial

In 1895 he was engaged by the Marquess of Queensberry to lead his defence against Oscar Wilde's libel action. This meant his job was in effect to prosecute Wilde, who had been his contemporary and rival at Trinity College. When Wilde heard of his appointment, he remarked "No doubt he will pursue his case with all the added bitterness of an old friend". Carson's cross-examination of Wilde is a supreme example of a battle of wits. 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... John Sholto Douglas (1844-1900) was an eccentric Scottish nobleman, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry and Viscount Drumlanrig. ... Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal OFlahertie Wills Wilde (October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900) was an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and short story writer. ...

Unionism

In 1910 it became clear that the House of Lords' veto on the Third Irish Home Rule Bill was about to be lifted. When James Craig and other leading Unionists asked Carson, who was their most effective speaker, to assume their leadership, he accepted. He was a natural choice but was not ideal because the vast majority of Irish Unionists came from Ulster sundawn . 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... The Government of Ireland Act 1914, more generally known as the Third Home Rule Act (or Bill) or the (Irish) Home Rule Act 1914, was an Act of Parliament passed by the British House of Commons in May 1914 which sought to give Ireland internal self_government within the United Kingdom... Sir James Craig, later Viscount Craigavon 1st Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. ... Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh, IPA: ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland. ...

Sir Edward Carson signing the Solemn League and Covenant

Carson campaigned against Home Rule using a variety of means, both constitutional and illegal. He spoke against the Bill in the House of Commons and organised rallies in Ireland. At one such rally, 100,000 strong, Carson told the crowd that a provisional government for "the Protestant province of Ulster" should be ready should a Third Home Rule Bill come into law. On September 28, 1912 he was the first signatory on the Ulster Covenant, which bound its signatories to resist Home Rule by "all means necessary". In January 1913 he established the Ulster Volunteer Force, the first loyalist paramilitary group. The UVF received a large arms cache from Germany in April 1914 (see Larne gunrunning). Imperial Germany was very eager to promote political tension in the United Kingdom at the time and readily allowed the delivery of arms to both sides of the political divide in Ireland. This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 50 years. ... This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 50 years. ... The Covenanters, named after the Solemn League and Covenant, were a party that, originating in the Reformation movement, played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England, during the 17th century. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ... The Government of Ireland Act 1914, more generally known as the Third Home Rule Act (or Bill) or the (Irish) Home Rule Act 1914, was an Act of Parliament passed by the British House of Commons in May 1914 which sought to give Ireland internal self_government within the United Kingdom... September 28 is the 271st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (272nd in leap years). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... The Ulster Covenant was signed by hundreds of thousands of men all over Ulster, Ireland, on and before September 28, 1912, in protest of a Home Rule bill introduced in that same year. ... 1913 (MCMXIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is a loyalist paramilitary (terrorist) group in Northern Ireland. ... In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... A paramilitary organization is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... ... This article or section should include material from German Monarchy The term German Empire (the translation from German of Deutsches Reich) commonly refers to Germany, from its consolidation as a unified nation-state on January 18, 1871, until the abdication of Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm II on November 9, 1918. ...

Despite Carson's best efforts, the Home Rule Bill was passed by the Commons on 25 May 1914 by a majority of 77 and due to the Parliament Act of 1911, it did not need the Lords consent, so the bill was awaiting royal assent. To enforce the legislation, given the activities of the Unionists, Herbert Asquith's Liberal government prepared to send troops to Ulster. This sparked the Curragh incident on July 20. Ulster was on the brink of civil war when the outbreak of the First World War led to the suspension of Home Rule. May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament. ... The Right Honourable Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC (12 September 1852–15 February 1928) served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916. ... The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the 1920s, and a third party of varying strength and importance up to 1988, when it merged with the Social Democratic Party to form a new party which would become known as... The Curragh incident July 20, 1914 is also known as the Curragh Mutiny. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh, IPA: ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland. ... World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machine guns, and poison gas. ...

Cabinet member

On May 25, 1915, Asquith appointed Carson Attorney-General when the Coalition Government was formed after the Liberal government was bought down by the Shell Crisis. However he resigned on October 19, ostensibly over his opposition to Government policy on war in the Balkans, but in reality in the hopes of destabilizing Asquith's government. When Asquith resigned, he returned to office on December 10, 1916 as First Lord of the Admiralty, becoming a Minister without Portfolio on July 17, 1917. May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General or Attorney-General, is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... The Poo Crisis of 1915 brought down the government of the United Kingdom (then engaged in World War I) because it was widely perceived that the production of artillery shells for use by the British Army was inadequate. ... October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... The First Lord of the Admiralty was a British government position in charge of the Admiralty. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...

Early in 1918 the government decided to extend conscription to Ireland, and that Ireland would have to be given home rule in order to make it acceptable. Carson disagreed in principle and again resigned on January 21, 1918. He gave up his seat at the University of Dublin in the 1918 general election and was instead elected for Belfast Duncairn. He continued to lead the Unionists but when the Government of Ireland Act 1920 was introduced, advised his party to work for the exemption of six Ulster counties from Home Rule as the best compromise (a compromise he had previously rejected). This proposal passed and as a result the Parliament of Northern Ireland was established. After the partition of Ireland, Carson repeatedly warned Ulster Unionist leaders not to alienate northern Catholics, as he accurately foresaw this would make Northern Ireland unstable. In 1921 he stated: "We used to say that we could not trust an Irish parliament in Dublin to do justice to the Protestant minority. Let us take care that that reproach can no longer be made against your parliament, and from the outset let them see that the Catholic minority have nothing to fear from a Protestant majority." His calls went unheeded. 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. ... Belfast (Béal Feirste in Irish) is a city in the United Kingdom, and the second-largest city on the island of Ireland. ... An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act, 1920 (this is its official short title; the formal citation is 10 & 11 Geo. ... The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972, when it was suspended. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1...

Judge

He was naturally asked by the Unionists to lead them into the election and become the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. However, Carson declined due to his lack of connections with Ulster. Instead, he was appointed as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and created a life peer on June 1, 1921 as Baron Carson, of Duncairn, County Antrim. The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the head of the Government of Northern Ireland, appointed by the Governor of Northern Ireland under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. ... Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are Life peers entrusted since the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 with carrying out the judicial functions of the House of Lords. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... County Antrim ( in [Gaelic) is one of the six Irish counties that form Northern Ireland. ...

Later years

He retired in 1929. After his death on October 22, 1935, the Northern Ireland Government gave him a state funeral and he was buried in St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, as yet the only person to have received that honour. In 1932 he had unveiled a large statue of himself in front of the Parliament Building of Northern Ireland at Stormont, Belfast. 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... The Parliament Building of Northern Ireland, known as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont area of Belfast, served as the seat of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and successive Northern Ireland assemblies and conventions. ... Stormont is a suburb of the city of Belfast, in which the Northern Ireland Parliament building and Stormont Castle area located. ...