Thomas Leslie Teevan
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Thomas Leslie Teevan (July 1927 – 11 October 1954) was a British Unionist politician and lawyer, notable for his extreme youth, brief career, and very early death.
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[edit] Early life
Thomas Teevan was born in Limavady, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1927. He was educated at Limavady Academy and Queen's University Belfast. He was a lecturer in law.
[edit] Brief political career
In 1950, a vacancy arose in the Belfast West constituency, due to the disqualification of the Reverend James MacManaway. Teevan was selected as Unionist candidate for the ensuing by-election.
He was elected over the Irish Labour Party candidate, Jack Beattie, a former MP for the seat, by 913 votes. Teevan was aged only 23 and became Baby of the House.
His tenure lasted just 330 days, and he lost the seat to Beattie by just 25 votes in the 1951 General Election. Aged just 24, he thus became the youngest person to leave the House of Commons in modern times.1
[edit] Early death
Teevan qualified as a barrister in Northern Ireland in 1952. He also served as Chairman of Limavady Urban District Council.
Thomas Teevan died in 1954, aged just 27.
[edit] Notes
1 Patrick Joseph Whitty was elected Irish Nationalist member for North Louth in 1916, aged 21. He took his seat and sat until 1918. His exact date of birth is unknown, but it is accepted that he was born in 1894. He too therefore was aged 24 years on his leaving the House of Commons.
[edit] References
- 'Who's Who of British MPs: Volume IV, 1945-1979' by Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees (Harvester, Brighton, 1979) ISBN 0-85527-335-6
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Godfrey MacManaway |
Member of Parliament for Belfast West November 1950–1951 |
Succeeded by Jack Beattie |
