Milne Barbour
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| Rt. Hon. Sir Milne Barbour, Bart. | |
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Minister of Commerce of
Northern Ireland |
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| In office 16th April 1925 – 16th January 1941. |
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Minister of Finance for
Northern Ireland |
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| In office 16th January 1941 – 6th May 1943. |
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| Constituency | Antrim (1921-1929) |
|---|---|
| Constituency | South Antrim (1929-1951) |
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| Born | 1868 |
| Died | 3 October 1951 |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Occupation | Linen manufacturer |
| Religion | Protestant |
Sir John Milne Barbour, 1st Baronet, JP, DL (1868 - 3 October 1951) was a Northern Irish politician and baronet. As a member of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland he was styled The Right Honourable Sir Milne Barbour.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Born in Lisburn, County Antrim Sir Milne was educated at Elstree School, Harrow School, Brasenose College, Oxford, and Darmstadt, Germany.[1] In politics he served as Member of Parliament for Antrim first elected in the 1921 Election re-elected in the 1925 Election and for South Antrim from the 1929 Election until his death in 1951. [2], Minister of Commerce (where he was perceived as "wrong, inept and palsied"[3]) and was promoted, aged 72, to Minister of Finance in the Stormont government[3].
From 1921 to 1929 he was a member of the Senate of Northern Ireland.[4]
He also acted as High Sheriff of County Armagh, in 1905, and County Down in 1907.[1] He was created a baronet, of Hilden, County Antrim, in 1943. He also served as President of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce in 1911, as a member of Belfast Harbour Commissioners from 1914 to 1950, as President of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast and as President of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society from 1925 to 1930 and from 1931 until his death. He also sat on the Senate of Queen’s University, Belfast.[1]
[edit] Family background
Barbour was born into a family of wealthy linen manufacturers, owners of William Barbour Linen Thread Company of Hilden - the largest linen thread manufacturers in the world [5], in business he was Chairman of the family company, which exists today in the same factory as Barbour Campbell Threads[6]. [5] The baronetcy became extinct upon his death, Sir Milne was predeceased by his son.
[edit] Personal life
Sir Milne was the son of John Doherty Barbour. He married Elise Barbour, a distant relative (b. Paterson, New Jersey, USA in 1873); Lady Barbour died at their home, Conway House, Dunmurry[7], in 1910.[5] The couple had three daughters and one son, John Milne Jnr., whose aeroplane went missing whilst flying over the Irish sea in 1937. John was a civilian pilot (a former competitor in the King's Cup Race[8]) who would fly home at the weekends from the Barbour factory in Glasgow, where he worked during the week.[5] Sir Milne's sister, Helen, married Thomas Andrews, architect of the Titanic.[5] Sir Milne was a Freemason.[5] A prize cup at the boat club of Queen's University, Belfast is named in his honour.[9] He was described by diarist Lillian Dean, later Lady Spender (wife of Sir Wilfrid Spender) as "a curious man who looks like a stage Mephistopheles but is given to preaching in dissenting chapels." [10] A deeply religious man throughout his life he served on as a Member of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland[1]. presented the East Window to Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, in memory of his wife and son.[11]
Barbour Memorial Playing Fields and the Sir Milne Barbour Memorial Garden, both in Lisburn, are named in his honour.[12]
[edit] See also
- Barbour Baronets
- Summary of a piece of film held in the Public Records Office NI Digital Film Archive which features Sir Milne
- A motor car made for Sir Milne (in Spanish)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Northern Ireland Parliamentary Biographies
- ^ lisburn.com
- ^ a b Jackson, Alan A., Ireland 1798-1998: Politics and War, p.354
- ^ Members of the Senate of Northern Ireland
- ^ a b c d e f Belfast Cathedral
- ^ Travel World Magazine.
- ^ Japanese Art Collections in the UK
- ^ Genealogy at the Linenhall by Gerry Healey
- ^ Queen's University, Belfast Boat Club
- ^ Lady Spender's Diaries at PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE of NORTHERN IRELAND
- ^ Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn
- ^ Sport Lisburn.
| Parliament of Northern Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New constituency |
Member of Parliament for South Antrim 1929 - 1951 |
Succeeded by Brian McConnell |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Edward Archdale |
Minister of Commerce 1925 - 41 |
Succeeded by Basil Brooke |
| Preceded by John Miller Andrews |
Minister of Finance 1941 - 43 |
Succeeded by John Maynard Sinclair |
