Josias Cunningham

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Sir Josias Cunningham
Sir Josias Cunningham

Sir Josias (Joe) Cunningham, DL (20 January 1934[1] - 9 August 2000) was a Northern Irish stock broker, farmer and politician.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Sir Josias, the grandson of Samuel Cunningham, was born into a well-off family of stock brokers, the family firm being Cunningham Coates (they also owned the The Northern Whig newspaper). He was educated at Fettes College and went on to read biological sciences at Clare College, Cambridge - where his uncle Sir Knox Cunningham had attended.[2][3] [4]

[edit] Career & Politics

As well as working in the family firm he farmed 300 acres (1.2 km²) of County Antrim.[5] In 1991 on the death of Sir George Clarke he was elected President of the Ulster Unionist Council and was one of the last remainders of Northern Ireland's moneyed families to remain involved in politics since the onset of the troubles.[6] He was also an Orangeman[7] and lived on his farm at Templepatrick, County Antrim.

[edit] Death

Sir Josias died, in 2000, in a car accident at Carryduff, County Down,[8] aged 66. His funeral took place in Donegore Presbyterian Church.[9] He was married and had four children. The UUP headquarters, Cunningham House, was named in his family's honour, and was dedicated by his widow.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Britannica
  2. ^ BBC report on death
  3. ^ Electric-Review
  4. ^ Fernhill House History
  5. ^ BBC report on death
  6. ^ New York Times Obituary
  7. ^ The Independent Obituary
  8. ^ Electric-Review
  9. ^ BBC report on death
  10. ^ The Sunday Life
Political offices
Preceded by
Sir George A Clarke		 President of the Ulster Unionist Party
1990–2000		 Succeeded by
Martin Smyth
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