Andrew Commins facts for kids
Andrew Commins (1829 – 7 January 1916) was an important Irish lawyer and politician. He worked to represent the people of Ireland in both local government and the British Parliament.
Early Life and Education
Andrew Commins was born in a place called Ballybeg in County Carlow, Ireland. He went to college at St. Patrick's College, Carlow and later at Queen's College, Cork. In 1854, he earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree.
He continued his studies and, in 1858, received a law degree (LLD) from the University of London. Two years later, in 1860, he became a barrister at Lincoln's Inn. A barrister is a type of lawyer who can argue cases in higher courts. He worked in the legal field, specifically on the "Northern Circuit," which meant he traveled to different courts in the northern part of England.
Local Politics in Liverpool
In 1876, Andrew Commins began his political career in Liverpool, England. He was elected as a Councillor to the Liverpool Town Council. He represented the Vauxhall area of the city.
He was part of the Home Rule League, a group that wanted Ireland to have more control over its own laws and government. Commins served as a Councillor until 1892. After that, he was elected as an alderman, which is a senior member of a city council. He held this important position until he retired in 1913.
Serving in Parliament
Andrew Commins also became a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he was elected to the British Parliament in London. In 1880, he was elected to represent the area of Roscommon in Ireland. He first represented the Home Rule League and then the Irish Parliamentary Party.
From 1885, he represented a new area called Roscommon South. In 1891, there was a big disagreement within the Irish Parliamentary Party, known as the "Parnell split." Andrew Commins sided with the group that was against Charles Stewart Parnell, a famous Irish leader.
Because of this split, he lost his seat in the 1892 election. However, he was re-elected in a special election in June 1893 for the South East Cork area. He continued to serve as an MP for South East Cork until the general election in 1900.
