David Graham Shillington

Major David Graham Shillington PC(NI) (10 December 1872 – 22 January 1944) was an Ulster Unionist politician.

Early life

Shillington was a son of Thomas Primus Shillington (1831-1889), of Tavanagh House, Portadown, County Armagh, of a prominent Methodist mercantile family, by his wife Mary Jane (d. 1915), née Graham. His cousin was the factory owner and politician Thomas Shillington.[1][2] Shillington was educated at Methodist College Belfast and Rydalmount School, Colwyn Bay.[3] He was the proprietor of a general merchant's shop in Belfast. He served in the First World War as a Major in the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers.[4]

Political career

In 1921, he was elected to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland as Unionist member for Armagh, and then for Armagh, Central in 1929 until he resigned on medical advice in February 1941.

He served as Minister of Labour from 1937–38.[5]

Personal life

Shillington and his wife Sarah Louisa (née Collen) lived at Ardeavon, Killycomain Road, Portadown,[6][7] and had six children. The youngest was (Robert Edward) Graham Shillington, who would become the Chief Constable of Royal Ulster Constabulary.[8] Son Thomas Graham Shillington served with the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers, and was killed in action in 1917 aged 19, during the First World War. Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant Geoffrey St. George Shillington Cather was the son of Shillington's sister.[9]

References
  1. The Linen Houses of the Bann Valley: The Story of Their Families, Kathleen Rankin, Ulster Historical Foundation, 2007, pp. 203-209
  2. A Call to Arms- Portadown and the Great War, Richard Edgar, 2014, p. 238
  3. "Northern Ireland Parliamentary Elections Results: Biographies". www.election.demon.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  4. A Call to Arms- Portadown and the Great War, Richard Edgar, 2014, p. 238
  5. "The Government of Northern Ireland". www.election.demon.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  6. The Linen Houses of the Bann Valley: The Story of Their Families, Kathleen Rankin, Ulster Historical Foundation, 2007, p. 206
  7. A Call to Arms- Portadown and the Great War, Richard Edgar, 2014, pp. 238-239
  8. "Sir Graham Shillington". The Daily Telegraph. 16 August 2001. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  9. A Call to Arms- Portadown and the Great War, Richard Edgar, 2014, pp. 238-239

Sources
Parliament of Northern Ireland
New constituency Member of Parliament for Armagh
1921–1929		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Armagh Central
1929–1941		 Succeeded by
George Dougan
Political offices
Preceded by
J. M. Andrews		 Minister of Labour
1937–1938		 Succeeded by
John Fawcett Gordon


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