Maynard Sinclair

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Maynard Sinclair, centre with garland, upon winning his constituency in the NI general election (14 February 1949)

Major the Rt. Hon. John Maynard Sinclair (4 August 1896 – 31 January 1953) was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland. Born in Belfast in 1896, he was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. He served in the British Army during World War I. He was a director of the Eagle Star Insurance Company.

[edit] Political career

His first attempt to be elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland was unsuccessful; he contested the Mourne division in 1933. He was elected to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland in 1938 for the division of Belfast Cromac. On 16 January 1941 he was appointed Parliamentary and Finance Secretary to the Minister of Finance (i.e. a junior minister). In May 1943 Sir Basil Brooke succeeded John M. Andrews as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland; Maynard Sinclair was appointed Minister for Finance (de facto Deputy Prime Minister) in the Government of Northern Ireland on 6 May 1943 and was made a Privy Councillor (Northern Ireland).

[edit] Death

Maynard Sinclair was one of 133 passengers drowned in the sinking of the ferry MV Princess Victoria on 31 January 1953, en route across the North Channel from Stranraer to Larne. He was also Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Ireland at the time of his death.

[edit] Memorials

The pavilion of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Sports and Social Club on the Stormont Estate in Belfast is named the "Maynard Sinclair Pavilion". The children’s ward at the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald is named the "Maynard Sinclair Children’s Ward".

[edit] External links

• List of ministers in the Government of Northern Ireland