Anthony Babington (politician)

For the 16th century MP, see Anthony Babington (died 1536).

The Right Honourable Sir Anthony Babington PC, QC
Attorney General for Northern Ireland
In office 5 November 1925 – 3 December 1937
Preceded by	Richard Best
Succeeded by	Edward Murphy
Member of Parliament for Belfast Cromac
In office 1929–1937
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Maynard Sinclair
Member of Parliament for South Belfast
In office 1925–1929
Preceded by	Philip James Woods
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Anthony Brutus Babington (1877-11-24)24 November 1877
Died
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party
Alma mater	Trinity College, Dublin
Religion	Church of Ireland

Sir Anthony Brutus Babington PC(NI) KC (24 November 1877 – 10 April 1972) was an Irish barrister, judge and politician.

Born in 1877 to Hume Babington, the son of Rev. Hume Babington and a landowner in Londonderry who inherited the family estate Creevagh House, and Hester Watt. He was educated at Glenalmond School, Perthshire and Trinity College, Dublin.

Babington was born into an Anglo-Irish family that had resettled in Ireland after the execution of Anthony Babington for his participation in the Babington Plot. Notable relations include Anthony Babington, William Babington, Benjamin Guy Babington, James Melville Babington, Zachary Babington, the Couper Baronets and the Marquesses of Tweeddale.

He was called to the Irish Bar in 1900 and took silk in 1918. In 1925, he was elected to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland as Unionist member for South Belfast, and then for Belfast, Cromac in 1929 until he resigned upon appointment as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 1937. He was a proponent of renaming Northern Ireland as "Ulster".

He served as Attorney General for Northern Ireland from 1925–1937, and was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in 1926, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable". He retired from the judiciary in 1949. He was also a member of The Apprentice Boys of Derry Parent Club in Londonderry. From 1926 to 1952, Sir Anthony was a member of the board of governors of the Belfast Royal Academy. He served as warden (chairman) of the board from 1941-43. Through his efforts the school acquired the Castle Grounds from Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 9th Earl of Shaftesbury in 1934.

In his spare time, Babington was a keen golfer. Notably, he is recognised as a key influence on the Royal Portrush Golf Club, where his portrait hangs.

Sources

• http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/biographies.html

Parliament of Northern Ireland
Preceded by Philip James Woods	Member of Parliament for South Belfast 1925 - 1929	Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Preceded by New constituency	Member of Parliament for Belfast, Cromac 1929 - 1937	Succeeded by Maynard Sinclair
Political offices
Preceded by Richard Best	Attorney General for Northern Ireland 1925 - 1937	Succeeded by Edward Sullivan Murphy