Sir James Craig
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The Right Honourable The Viscount Craigavon PC PC (NI) |
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| Prime Minister of Northern Ireland | |
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In office 7 June 1921 – 24 November 1940 |
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| Monarch |
George V Edward VIII George VI |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | John Miller Andrews |
| Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty | |
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In office 1920–1921 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas James Macnamara |
| Succeeded by | Leo Amery |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for North Down |
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In office 22 May 1929 – 24 November 1940 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Bailie |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for Down |
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In office 24 May 1921 – 22 May 1929 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
8 January 1871 Belfast, Ireland |
| Died | 24 November 1940 (aged 69) Glencraig, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Spouse(s) | Cecil Mary Tupper |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Merchiston |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1899–1901 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 3rd (Militia) Royal Irish Rifles |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War |
James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon, PC, PC (NI) (8 January 1871 – 24 November 1940), was a prominent Irish unionist politician, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. He was created a baronet in 1918 and raised to the Peerage in 1927.
Craig was born at Sydenham, Belfast, the son of James Craig (1828–1900), a wealthy whiskey distiller; he had entered the firm of Dunville Whisky as a clerk and by aged 40 he was a millionaire and a partner in the firm. James Craig Snr. owned a large house called Craigavon, overlooking Belfast Lough. His mother, Eleanor Gilmore Browne, was the daughter of Robert Browne, a prosperous man who owned property in Belfast and a farm outside Lisburn. Craig was the seventh child and sixth son in the family; there were eight sons and one daughter in all.
He was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland; his father had taken a conscious decision not to send his sons to any of the more fashionable public schools. After school he began work as a stockbroker, eventually opening his own firm in Belfast.
He enlisted in the 3rd (militia) regiment of the Royal Irish Rifles on 11 January 1900 to serve in the Second Boer War. Military life suited him well, but he became impatient with the lack of professionalism and efficiency in the British Army. He was seconded to the Imperial Yeomanry as a lieutenant in the 13th battalion on 24 February 1900, was promoted to captain, and was taken prisoner in May 1900, but released by the Boers because of a perforated eardrum. On his recovery he became deputy assistant director of the Imperial Military Railways, showing the qualities of organisation that were to mark his involvement in both British and Ulster politics. In June 1901 he was sent home suffering from dysentery, and by the time he was fit for service again the war was over.
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