Lord Mayor of Belfast

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Lord Mayor of Belfast
Belfast City Coat of Arms.svg
Arder Carson.jpg
Incumbent
Councillor Arder Carson
since 1 April 2015
Style The Right Honourable[1]
Appointer Belfast City Council
Term length One year
Inaugural holder Sir Daniel Dixon (Lord Mayor)
George Dunbar (Mayor)
John Vesey (Sovereign)
Formation 1892 (as Lord Mayor of Belfast)
1842 (as Mayor of Belfast)
1613 (Belfast)
Deputy Alderman Guy Spence
Website http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
lordmayor/

The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 60 councillors.

The Lord Mayor is Councillor Arder Carson of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Alderman Guy Spence of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in April 2015.

The Lord Mayor's Parlour is traditionally situated in Belfast City Hall.

History

The Lord Mayor's Parlour is traditionally situated in Belfast City Hall

The position that is now the Lord Mayor originated in 1613 in the town's Royal Charter as the Sovereign of Belfast. In 1842, this position was restyled the Mayor of Belfast. in 1892, four years after Belfast was granted city status, the position was given Lord Mayor status, making it one of only three cities on the island of Ireland having a Lord Mayor, the other two being Cork and Dublin. In 1929, it became one of only six cities in the United Kingdom to have a Lord Mayor styled "the Right Honourable". Until 1973 the position was held for three years, when it was reduced to its current term of one year. From 1921 until 1972, the Lord Mayor was automatically entitled to a seat in the Senate of Northern Ireland.

For most of the City's modern history, the position has been held by Unionists, with members of the Ulster Unionist Party holding the post for a total of 61 of the 67 years between 1921 and 1997. The first non-Unionist Lord Mayor since the partition of Ireland in 1921 was David Cook from the Alliance Party who was elected in 1978. The first nationalist Lord Mayor was not appointed until the election of Alban Maginness from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1997, while a Sinn Féin Lord Mayor was first elected in 2002. The loss of the Unionist majority on the Council in 1997 has resulted in a greater rotation of the position amongst the parties, which, like other elected positions within the Council such as Committee chairs, is now filled using the D'Hondt system. This system awards positions to parties based on their number of Councillors and means that the Council that sits from 2011 to 2015 will see the Lord Mayor post filled twice by Sinn Féin (2011-12 & 2014-15), once by the Democratic Unionist Party (2012–13) and once by the SDLP (2013–14).

Powers and duties

The Lord's Mayor's role is largely ceremonial, but does include the following powers and duties:[2]

  • In times of natural disaster the Lord Mayor may direct resources such as Police, Fire and Ambulance as they see fit
  • Presiding over meetings of the council and, in the case of equality of votes, the Lord Mayor has a second or casting vote
  • Promoting and raising awareness of the council’s main objectives and priority issues
  • Encouraging and supporting all aspects of life in Belfast by attending civic and public events
  • Receiving distinguished visitors to the city
  • Acting as host on behalf of the council and the citizens of Belfast at civic functions
  • Acting as a spokesperson to the local, national and international media
  • Providing an appropriate response on behalf of Belfast at times of local, national and international catastrophe
  • Supporting and encouraging charitable and other appeals as appropriate
  • Promoting Belfast's business, commercial, cultural and social life
  • Promoting Belfast as a place of excellence in which to do business and as a tourist destination.

Deputy Lord Mayor

The position of Deputy Lord Mayor has a representative role within the city along with the Lord Mayor. When the Lord Mayor is unavailable for whatever reason, it is the responsibility of the Deputy Lord Mayor to carry out the representative functions of the Lord Mayor.

While the Deputy Lord Mayor is in office, they combine their mayoral responsibilities with their responsibilities as a councillor, such as serving on Council Committees.

Monuments

Sovereigns of Belfast (1613–1842)

The following is a list of Sovereigns of Belfast from the creation of the position in 1613 until it was replaced by the position of Mayor in 1842.[3]

17th century

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  • 1613: John Vesey
  • 1614: John Willowbye
  • 1615: James Burr
  • 1616: James Burr
  • 1617: Carew Hart
  • 1618: Carew Hart
  • 1619: George Theaker
  • 1620: George Theaker
  • 1621: No Name
  • 1622: Edward Holmes
  • 1623: Edward Holmes
  • 1624: No Name
  • 1625: No Name
  • 1626: Edward Holmes
  • 1627: Carew Hart
  • 1628: Edward Holmes
  • 1629: No Name
  • 1630: Walter House Crymble
  • 1631: Lewys Thompson
  • 1632: Robert Foster
  • 1633: Thomas Brampton or Brumston
  • 1634: Lewys Thompson
  • 1635: Henry Le Squire
  • 1636: Henry Le Squire
  • 1637: John Wasber
  • 1638: John Leathes, Senior
  • 1639: Henry Le Squire
  • 1640: John Haddock
  • 1641: Thomas Hamington
  • 1642: Thomas Stephenson
  • 1643: Thomas Theaker
  • 1644: Robert Foster
  • 1645: William Leathes
  • 1646: John Asshe or Ayshe
  • 1647: Hugh Doake
  • 1648: Robert Foster
  • 1649: George Giles Martin[4]
  • 1650: Thomas Harrington
  • 1651: Thomas Harrington
  • 1652: Thomas Waring
  • 1653: Thomas Waring
  • 1654: Thomas Theaker
  • 1655: John Leathes Junior
  • 1656: Thomas Waring
  • 1657: William Leathes
  • 1658: William Leathes
  • 1659: William Leathes and Francis Meek
  • 1660: Captain Francis Meek
  • 1661: John Rigby
  • 1662: George Macartney
  • 1663: George Macartney
  • 1664: Thomas Waring
  • 1665: Thomas Waring
  • 1666: Edward Raynell
  • 1667: Captain George Macartney
  • 1668: Captain George Macartney
  • 1669: William Warring
  • 1670: William Warring
  • 1671: Thomas Walcott
  • 1672: George Macartney
  • 1673: George Macartney
  • 1674: Hugh Eccles
  • 1675: George Macartney
  • 1676: George Macartney
  • 1677: George Macartney
  • 1678: George Macartney
  • 1679: George Macartney
  • 1680: George Macartney
  • 1681: Francis Tholford
  • 1682: Lewis Thompson
  • 1683: John Hamilton
  • 1684: John Hamilton
  • 1685: Thomas Knox
  • 1686: Captain Robert Leathes
  • 1687: Captain Robert Leathes
  • 1688: Captain Robert Leathes
  • 1689: Captain Robert Leathes
  • 1690: Captain Robert Leathes
  • 1691: William Lockhart
  • 1692: James Macartney
  • 1693: William Craford
  • 1694: William Craford
  • 1695: Captain Edward Harrison
  • 1696: Lewis Thompson
  • 1697: Earl of Donegall
  • 1698: David Smith
  • 1699: David Smith

18th century

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  • 1700: George Macartney
  • 1701: John Chalmers
  • 1702: David Butle
  • 1703: David Butle
  • 1704: David Butle and George Macartney
  • 1705: George Macartney
  • 1706: George Macartney
  • 1707: George Macartney
  • 1708: George Macartney
  • 1709: Richard Wilson
  • 1710: Roger Haddock
  • 1711: Roger Haddock
  • 1712: Hans Hamilton
  • 1713: Robert Leathes
  • 1714: James Gurner
  • 1715: James Gurner
  • 1716: Henry Ellis
  • 1717: John Carpenter
  • 1718: John Carpenter
  • 1719: Henry Ellis
  • 1720: Robert Le Byrtt
  • 1721: Robert Le Byrtt
  • 1722: Henry Ellis
  • 1723: George Macartney
  • 1724: Major George Macartney and Nathaniel Byrtt
  • 1725: Nathaniel Byrtt
  • 1726: Dr. James Macartney
  • 1727: John Clugstone
  • 1728: John Clugstone
  • 1729: Thomas Banks
  • 1730: John Duff
  • 1731: Arthur Byrtt
  • 1732: John Clugstone
  • 1733: John Clugstone
  • 1734: Robert Le Byrtt
  • 1735: Robert Le Byrtt
  • 1736: Margetson Saunders
  • 1737: Margetson Saunders
  • 1738: Margetson Saunders
  • 1739: Robert Le Byrtt
  • 1740: Robert Le Byrtt
  • 1741: John Duff
  • 1742: John Duff
  • 1743: Robert Le Byrtt
  • 1744: Arthur Byrtt
  • 1745: Arthur Byrtt
  • 1746: Arthur Byrtt
  • 1747: John Duff
  • 1748: Margetson Saunders
  • 1749: George Macartney
  • 1750: George Macartney
  • 1751: George Macartney
  • 1752: Arthur Byrtt
  • 1753: John Duff
  • 1754: Margetson Saunders
  • 1755: Stewart Banks
  • 1756: Stewart Banks
  • 1757: Arthur Byrtt
  • 1758: Stewart Banks
  • 1759: George Macartney
  • 1760: Stephen Havon
  • 1761: James Hamilton
  • 1762: Stewart Banks
  • 1763: George Macartney
  • 1764: George Macartney
  • 1765: George Macartney
  • 1766: Stewart Banks
  • 1767: George Macartney
  • 1768: George Macartney
  • 1769: James Hamilton
  • 1770: Stephen Havon
  • 1771: Stewart Banks
  • 1772: Sham Thompson
  • 1773: James Lewis
  • 1774: James Lewis
  • 1775: George Black
  • 1776: George Black
  • 1777: James Lewis
  • 1778: Stewart Banks
  • 1779: Samuel Black
  • 1780: Samuel Black
  • 1781: Samuel Black
  • 1782: George Black
  • 1783: George Black
  • 1784: Samuel Black
  • 1785: George Black
  • 1786: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1787: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1788: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1789: Samuel Black
  • 1790: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1791: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1792: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1793: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1794: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1795: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1796: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1797: John Brown
  • 1798: Rev. William Bristow
  • 1799: John Brown

19th century

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  • 1800: John Brown
  • 1801: John Brown
  • 1802: Arthur Chichester
  • 1803: James Edward May
  • 1804: James Edward May
  • 1805: James Edward May
  • 1806: James Edward May
  • 1807: Rev. Edward May
  • 1808: Rev. Edward May
  • 1809: James Edward May
  • 1810: James Edward May
  • 1811: Rev. Edward May
  • 1812: Thomas Verner
  • 1813: Thomas Verner
  • 1814: Thomas Verner
  • 1815: Thomas Verner
  • 1816: Rev. Edward May
  • 1817: Thomas Ludford Stewart
  • 1818: Thomas Ludford Stewart
  • 1819: Thomas Verner
  • 1820: Thomas Verner
  • 1821: Thomas Verner
  • 1822: Thomas Verner
  • 1823: John Agnew and Andrew Alexander
  • 1824: Andrew Alexander and John Agnew
  • 1825: John Agnew
  • 1826: John Agnew
  • 1827: Rev. Lord Edward Chichester
  • 1828: Sir Stephen Edward May
  • 1829: Sir Stephen Edward May
  • 1830: Sir Stephen Edward May
  • 1831: Sir Stephen Edward May
  • 1832: Sir Stephen Edward May
  • 1833: Sir Stephen Edward May
  • 1834: John Agnew
  • 1835: John Agnew
  • 1836: John Agnew
  • 1837: John Agnew
  • 1838: John Agnew
  • 1839: John Agnew
  • 1840: John Agnew
  • 1841: Thomas Verner, Jun
  • 1842: Thomas Verner, Jun and the last Sovereign of the Old Corporation

Mayors of Belfast (1842–1892)

The following is a list of Mayors of Belfast from the creation of the position in 1842 until it was replaced by the position of Lord Mayor in 1892.[5]

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  • 1842-1843: George Dunbar
  • 1844: John Dunbar
  • 1845: Andrew Mulholland
  • 1846: John Kane
  • 1847: John Harrison
  • 1848: George Suffern
  • 1849: William Gilliland Johnston
  • 1850-1851: James Sterling
  • 1852: Samuel Graeme Fenton
  • 1853: William McGee
  • 1854: Frederick Harry Lewis
  • 1855: Thomas Verner
  • 1856-1858: Samuel Gibson Getty
  • 1859-1860: William Ewart
  • 1861: Edward Coey
  • 1862: Charles Lanyon
  • 1863-1865: John Lyttle
  • 1866: William Mullan
  • 1867: David Taylor
  • 1868: Samuel McCausland
  • 1869: Frederick Harry Lewis
  • 1870: Samuel Browne
  • 1871: Philip Johnston
  • 1872: John Savage
  • 1873-1874: James Alexander Henderson
  • 1875: Thomas Graham Lindsay
  • 1876: Robert Boag
  • 1877-1878: John Preston
  • 1879-1880: John Browne
  • 1881-1882: Edward Cowan
  • 1883-1884: David Taylor
  • 1885-1886: Edward Harland
  • 1887-1888: James Horner Haslett
  • 1889-1891: Charles C. Conor

Source: Belfast City Council

Lord Mayors of Belfast (1892–present)

The following is a list of Lord Mayors of Belfast since the creation of the position in 1892.[6]

19th century

From To Name Party
1892 1893 Daniel Dixon Irish Unionist
1894 1896 William McCammond Irish Unionist
1896 1898 William James Pirrie Liberal
1898 1899 James Henderson Irish Unionist
1899 1900 Otto Jaffe Irish Unionist

20th century

From To Name Party
1900 1901 Sir Robert J. McConnell Irish Unionist
1901 1904 Sir Daniel Dixon Irish Unionist
1904 1905 Sir Otto Jaffe Irish Unionist
1905 1907 Sir Daniel Dixon Irish Unionist
1907 1908 The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury Irish Unionist
1908 1910 Sir Robert Anderson Irish Unionist
1910 1914 Robert James McMordie Irish Unionist
1914 1917 Sir Crawford McCullagh Irish Unionist
1917 1919 James Johnston Irish Unionist
1919 1920 John Campbell White Irish Unionist
1920 1923 William F. Coates UUP
1923 1929 William George Turner UUP
1929 1931 Sir William F. Coates UUP
1931 1942 Sir Crawford McCullagh UUP
1942 1942 George Ruddell Black UUP
1943 1946 Sir Crawford McCullagh UUP
1946 1949 Sir William F. Neill UUP
1949 1951 William E. G. Johnston UUP
1951 1953 James Henry Norritt UUP
1953 1955 Sir Percival Brown UUP
1955 1957 Sir Robert Harcourt UUP
1957 1959 Cecil McKee UUP
1959 1961 Robin Kinahan UUP
1961 1963 Martin Kelso Wallace UUP
1963 1966 William Jenkins UUP
1966 1969 William Duncan Geddis UUP
1969 1972 Joseph Foster Cairns UUP
1972 1975 William Christie UUP
1975 1977 Sir Myles Humphreys UUP
1977 1978 James Stewart UUP
1978 1979 David Cook Alliance
1979 1980 Billy Bell UUP
1980 1981 John Carson UUP
1981 1982 Grace Bannister UUP
1982 1983 Thomas Patton UUP
1983 1985 Alfie Ferguson UUP
1985 1986 John Carson UUP
1986 1987 Sammy Wilson DUP
1987 1988 J. J. Dixon Gilmore UUP
1988 1989 Nigel Dodds DUP
1989 1990 Reg Empey UUP
1990 1991 Fred Cobain UUP
1991 1992 Nigel Dodds DUP
1992 1993 Herbert Ditty UUP
1993 1994 Reg Empey UUP
1994 1995 Hugh Smyth PUP
1995 1996 Eric Smyth DUP
1996 1997 Ian Adamson UUP
1997 1998 Alban Maginness SDLP
1998 1999 David Alderdice Alliance
1999 2000 Bob Stoker UUP

21st century

From To Name Party
2000 2001 Sammy Wilson DUP
2001 2002 Jim Rodgers UUP
2002 2003 Alex Maskey Sinn Féin
2003 2004 Martin Morgan SDLP
2004 2005 Tom Ekin Alliance
2005 2006 Wallace Browne DUP
2006 2007 Patrick McCarthy SDLP
2007 2008 Jim Rodgers UUP
2008 2009 Tom Hartley Sinn Féin
2009 2010 Naomi Long Alliance
2010 2011 Pat Convery SDLP
2011 2012 Niall Ó Donnghaile Sinn Féin
2012 2013 Gavin Robinson DUP
2013 2014 Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Sinn Féin
2014 2015 Nichola Mallon SDLP
2015 Incumbent Arder Carson Sinn Féin

Deputy Lord Mayors

20th century

From To Name Party
1975 1977 Grace Bannister UUP
1977 1979 Post vacant
1978 1979 Dorothy Dunlop UUP
1979 1980 Post vacant
1980 1981 Post vacant
1981 1982 Frank Millar Independent Unionist
1982 1983 Ted Ashby DUP
1983 1984 Hugh Smyth PUP
1984 1985 Billy Blair UUP
1985 1986 Billy Dickson DUP
1986 1987 Dixie Gilmore UUP
1987 1988 Post vacant
1988 1989 Reg Empey UUP
1989 1990 Post vacant
1990 1991 Eric Smyth DUP
1991 1992 Herbert Ditty UUP
1992 1993 Frank Millar Independent Unionist
1993 1994 Hugh Smyth PUP
1994 1995 Ian Adamson UUP
1995 1996 Alasdair McDonnell SDLP
1996 1997 Margaret Crooks UUP
1997 1998 Jim Rodgers UUP
1998 1999 Bob Stoker UUP
1999 2000 Marie Moore Sinn Féin

21st century

From To Name Party
2000 2001 Frank McCoubrey Ulster Democratic
2001 2002 Hugh Smyth PUP
2002 2003 Post vacant Post vacant
2003 2004 Margaret Crooks UUP
2004 2005 Joe O'Donnell Sinn Féin
2005 2006 Pat Convery SDLP
2006 2007 Ruth Patterson DUP
2007 2008 Bernie Kelly SDLP
2008 2009 David Browne UUP
2009 2010 Danny Lavery Sinn Féin
2010 2011 William Humphrey DUP
2011 2012 Ruth Patterson DUP
2012 2013 Tierna Cunningham Sinn Féin
2013 2014 Christopher Stalford DUP
2014 2015 Maire Hendron Alliance
2015 Guy Spence DUP

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ A History of the Town of Belfast By George Benn
  4. ↑ http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=allerton_manor&id=I75825
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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