Born in Belfast, Fitzsimmons studied at Skegoneill National School and Belfast Technical College. He became a domestic engineer, and in 1948 was appointed as a Belfast Water Commissioner, serving as chairman of the Commissioners from 1954 to 1955. In 1951, he became a justice of the peace.[1]
Fitzsimmons was also an active member of the Ulster Unionist Party and was the President of Duncairn Unionist Association. He was elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland at a by-election in 1956, representing Belfast Duncairn. In 1961, he was made Assistant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, an assistant whip position. He also became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce. He was then rotated through a series of Parliamentary Secretary positions, serving with the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1963 to 1964, the Ministry of Health and Local Government from 1964 to 1966 and also the Ministry of Development for a period in 1965.[1]
In 1968, Fitzsimmons' daughter married a Roman Catholic. As a result, he resigned from the Orange Order.[2] At the 1969, former independent Unionist Member of Parliament Norman Porter stood against Fitzsimmons as a candidate whose opposition to Catholicism was in no doubt, but Fitzsimmons held his seat.[3]
At the Darlington Conference of 1973, Fitzsimmons served on the small Unionist team. Later in the year, he decided not to stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcBiographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
william, fitzsimmons, northern, ireland, politician, canadian, william, fitzsimmons, canadian, politician, william, kennedy, fitzsimmons, january, 1909, february, 1992, unionist, politician, northern, ireland, william, fitzsimmonsmember, parliament, belfast, d. For the Canadian MP see William Fitzsimmons Canadian politician William Kennedy Fitzsimmons 31 January 1909 21 February 1992 was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland William FitzsimmonsMember of Parliament for Belfast DuncairnIn office 1956 1973Minister of Health and Social Services Northern IrelandIn office 1969 1972Minister of Development Northern IrelandIn office 1966 1968Minister of Education Northern IrelandIn office 1965 19661968 1969Unionist Assistant WhipIn office 1961 1963Personal detailsBorn 1909 01 31 31 January 1909Belfast IrelandDied21 February 1992 1992 02 21 aged 83 Political partyUlster UnionistEducationBelfast Technical CollegeBiography editBorn in Belfast Fitzsimmons studied at Skegoneill National School and Belfast Technical College He became a domestic engineer and in 1948 was appointed as a Belfast Water Commissioner serving as chairman of the Commissioners from 1954 to 1955 In 1951 he became a justice of the peace 1 Fitzsimmons was also an active member of the Ulster Unionist Party and was the President of Duncairn Unionist Association He was elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland at a by election in 1956 representing Belfast Duncairn In 1961 he was made Assistant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance an assistant whip position He also became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce He was then rotated through a series of Parliamentary Secretary positions serving with the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1963 to 1964 the Ministry of Health and Local Government from 1964 to 1966 and also the Ministry of Development for a period in 1965 1 In April 1965 Fitzsimmons was finally appointed to a Cabinet position becoming Minister of Education He moved to become Minister of Development in 1966 back to Education in 1968 and finally served as Minister of Health and Social Services from 1969 until the Parliament was prorogued in 1972 1 In 1968 Fitzsimmons daughter married a Roman Catholic As a result he resigned from the Orange Order 2 At the 1969 former independent Unionist Member of Parliament Norman Porter stood against Fitzsimmons as a candidate whose opposition to Catholicism was in no doubt but Fitzsimmons held his seat 3 At the Darlington Conference of 1973 Fitzsimmons served on the small Unionist team Later in the year he decided not to stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election 4 References edit a b c Biographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons William Brown An Army with Banners Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results Boroughs Belfast Richard Deutsch and Vivien Magowan Northern Ireland 1968 73 Parliament of Northern Ireland Preceded byGeorge Hanna Member of Parliament for Belfast Duncairn1956 1973 Parliament abolished Party political offices Preceded byWilliam James Morgan Unionist Assistant Whip1961 1963 Succeeded byJames Chichester Clark Political offices Preceded byWilliam James Morgan Assistant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance1961 1963 Succeeded byJames Chichester Clark Preceded byBrian McConnell Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Local Government1964 1965 Vacant Vacant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce and Production1961 1965 Vacant VacantTitle last held byTerence O Neill Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs1963 1964 VacantTitle next held byRobert Porter Preceded byHerbert Kirk Minister of Education1965 1966 Succeeded byWilliam Long Preceded byWilliam Craig Minister of Development1966 1968 Succeeded byIvan Neill Preceded byWilliam Long Minister of Education1968 1969 Succeeded byPhelim O Neill Preceded byRobert Porter Minister of Health and Social Services1969 1972 Position abolished nbsp nbsp This article about a member of the 1921 1973 House of Commons of Northern Ireland or Senate of Northern Ireland is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Fitzsimmons Northern Ireland politician amp oldid 1193665453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
