Samuel MacCurdy Greer

Samuel MacCurdy Greer (1810–1880), was an Irish politician.

Life

He was the eldest son of the Rev. Thomas Greer, presbyterian minister of Dunboe, and Elizabeth Caldwell, daughter of Captain Adam Caldwell, R.N. He was born at Springvale, County Londonderry, in 1810, educated at the Belfast Academy and Glasgow University, and was called to the Irish Bar in 1833.[1]

His life was devoted to constitutional agitation for such reforms in Irish land tenure as were necessary to make the union tolerable as a permanent arrangement. It was about 1848 that Greer first began to take an active part in political life, and although never a very prominent figure in public, his influence and popularity in his native county were very great. He was one of the originators of the tenant league, formed in 1850 by himself, Sir John Gray, proprietor of the 'Freeman's Journal,' Dr. M'Knight, editor of the 'Londonderry Standard,' Frederick Lucas, and John Francis Maguire. They demanded for the Irish tenant what have since been known as the three F's —fixity of tenure, fair rents, and free sale. Greer was one of the few Ulstermen of any weight or position—William Sharman Crawford was another—who adopted these principles. He contested the representation of County Londonderry four times, and that of the City of Londonderry twice, being successful only once, when he was elected for the county at the 1857 general election.[1][2]

Although continually defeated, Greer was the effective creator of the liberal party in Ulster. He practically retired from politics in 1870, before the major movement in favour of Irish home rule.[1]

Most of the reforms for which Greer struggled—tenant right, vote by ballot, etc.—were conceded. He dissented from the Parnellite principle of standing aloof from the English parties. There was, therefore, nothing to prevent him from accepting the recordership of Londonderry in 1870. He held this office until 1878, when he was appointed county court judge of Cavan and Leitrim. He died in 1880.[1]

References
  1. Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). "Greer, Samuel MacCurdy" . Dictionary of National Biography. 23. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. Walker, Brian M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland 1801–1922. A New History of Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. pp. 296–7. ISBN 0901714127. ISSN 0332-0286.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
James Johnston Clark
Theobald Jones		 Member of Parliament for County Londonderry
1857 – 1859
With: James Johnston Clark		 Succeeded by
Sir Frederick Heygate, Bt
Robert Peel Dawson
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