Basil McFarland
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Sir Basil Alexander Talbot McFarland, 2nd Baronet, CBE, ERD (1898 - 1986) was a Northern Irish soldier, businessman and politician.
The son of Sir John McFarland, 1st Baronet, he was a businessman, a Senator of Northern Ireland, Mayor of Londonderry (1939 and 1945-1950), Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry (1939-1975) and an Irish Rugby Union international (1920 - 1922).
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[edit] Public service
Sir Basil was High Sheriff of the City of Londonderry, 1930-1938 and 1952, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1952. He served in 1918 with the Artists Rifles, and in the Second World War served overseas, mainly in North Africa, with the 9th Londonderry HAA Regiment and was Mentioned in Dispatches. He was Commanding Officer of the Londonderry City Battalion of the Home Guard, Chairman of the Territorial Army and Auxiliary Force Association (Co. Londonderry), 1947-1962, and a member of its national Council. McFarland was Hon. Colonel of the 9th Londonderry HAA Regiment of the Royal Artillery (TA), and President of the Northern Ireland TA and Volunteer Reserve Association, 1968-1971.
He was a Commissioner of Irish Lights, an original member of the Northern Ireland Unemployment Assistance Board (to 1939), a Senator in the Northern Ireland Parliament, 1945-1950, a member of the Northern Ireland Air Advisory Council, 1946-1965, Chairman of the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, 1952-1967, a member of the London Midland Area Board of the British Transport Commission, 1955-1961, and a trustee of Magee University College, Londonderry, 1962-1965.
[edit] Business Interests
His directorships and business interests included: directorships of the Belfast Banking Company Ltd, 1930-1970, the Belfast Bank Executors Trustee Company, and the Donegal Railways Company, a local directorship of the Commercial Union Assurance Co., and the chairmanship of Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son (Northern Ireland) Ltd, the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Co., Lanes (Derry) Ltd, Lanes (Fuel Oils) Ltd, Lanes (Business Equipment) Ltd, John W. Corbett & Sons, R.C. Malseed & Co. Ltd, Alexander Thompson & Co. Ltd, and the Londonderry Gaslight Co.
[edit] Personal life
Sir Basil was married to Annie Kathleen Henderson (d. 1952), daughter of Andrew Henderson, JP, of Parkville, Whiteabbey, Belfast. Sir Basil had two children, including Sir John McFarland, 3rd Baronet - who lives in County Donegal. His second marriage took place in 1955 to Mary Eleanor.
[edit] References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James McElmunn Wilton |
Mayor of Londonderry 1939-40 |
Succeeded by Frederick Simmons |
| Preceded by Frederick Simmons |
Mayor of Londonderry 1945-50 |
Succeeded by Gerald Stanley Glover |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by William Moore |
Lord Lieutenant of the City of Londonderry 1939–1975 |
Succeeded by Thomas Fitzpatrick Cooke |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by John McFarland |
Baronet (of Aberfoyle) 1926–1986 |
Succeeded by John McFarland |
