Joseph Gillis Biggar
| Joseph Biggar | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of Parliament for West Cavan | |
|
In office 1885–1890 |
|
| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Edmund Vesey Knox |
| Member of Parliament for Cavan | |
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In office 1874–1885 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency disestablished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1828 Belfast, Ireland |
| Died | 19 February 1890 (aged 62) |
| Political party | Irish Parliamentary Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Home Rule League (until 1882) |
| Education | Belfast Royal Academy |
| Religion |
Roman Catholicism (Presbyterian until 1875) |
Joseph Gillis Biggar (c. 1828 – 19 February 1890), commonly known as Joe Biggar or J. G. Biggar, was an Irish nationalist politician from Belfast. He served as an MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as member of the Home Rule League and later Irish Parliamentary Party for Cavan from 1874 to 1885 and West Cavan from 1885 to his death in 1890.
He was the eldest son of Joseph Biggar, merchant and chairman of the Ulster bank, by Isabella, daughter of William Houston of Ballyearl, Antrim. He was educated at the Belfast Academy, and, entering his father's business of a provision merchant, became head of the firm in 1861, and carried it on till 1880. His parents were presbyterians, but Biggar was in 1877 received into the Roman Catholic church. He became a wealthy Belfast provision merchant and city councillor. He is believed to have converted to Catholicism in 1875 in solidarity with Irish nationalism. He lacked physical presence, being a 'diminutive hunchback'.
From 1869 onwards, he took an active part in local politics at Belfast. In 1871, he was elected a town councillor, and he acted for several years as chairman of the Belfast Water Commission.
He is known for introducing in 1874 a new, more aggressive form of obstructionism in the British House of Commons. This new form was directed not just at the Government but at the institution of parliament itself, and lacked the previous traditional restraint exercised by oppositions who realised that they could expect like treatment when they attained government. This involved giving long speeches to delay passage (also known as filibustering) of Irish coercion acts and to generally obstruct the business of the House to force the Liberals and Conservatives to negotiate with Irish nationalists. Obstruction was opposed by Home Rule Party leader Isaac Butt but approved of by most Irish nationalists.
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