Joseph Devlin facts for kids
Joseph Devlin (13 February 1871 – 18 January 1934) was an important Irish journalist and politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Irish Parliamentary Party in the UK House of Commons from 1902 to 1922, and again from 1929 to 1934. Later, he became an MP and leader of the Nationalist Party in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. People sometimes called him "the duodecimo Demosthenes," which meant he was a powerful speaker, even though he was small in stature.
Quick facts for kids
Joe Devlin
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Devlin, c. 1902
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| Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for Belfast Central |
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| In office 1929–1934 |
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| Preceded by | Seat created |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Joseph Campbell |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for Belfast West |
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| In office 1921–1929 |
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| Preceded by | Seat created |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Leader of the Nationalist Party | |
| In office 1921–1934 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Joseph Campbell |
| Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party | |
| In office 1918–1921 |
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| Preceded by | John Dillon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 February 1871 Belfast, Ireland |
| Died | 18 January 1934 (aged 62) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Nationalist Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Irish Parliamentary Party (until 1921) |
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Joseph Devlin was born on 13 February 1871 in Belfast, Ireland. He was the fifth child in his family. His father, Charles Devlin, was a self-employed driver of a horse-drawn carriage. His mother, Elizabeth King, sold groceries from their home. Both of his parents were Catholic.
He went to St. Mary's Christian Brothers' School in Divis Street until he was twelve. There, he learned about Irish history and culture from an Irish viewpoint.
After school, he worked briefly as a clerk and in a pub. He quickly showed a talent for public speaking. In 1886, he became the chairman of a debating society. This group was formed to celebrate an important Irish nationalist election win in West Belfast.
From 1891 to 1893, Devlin worked as a journalist for the Irish News and then the Freeman's Journal. He also became involved with the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), a group he helped start in the 1890s. He strongly opposed the Orange Order, which was a similar group with different views. Before becoming a full-time politician, he worked as an assistant manager at a Belfast pub called Kelly's Cellars until 1902.
Becoming a Politician
In the 1890s, Devlin was active in a political group called the Irish National Federation in eastern Ulster. When William O'Brien started the United Irish League (UIL) in 1898, Devlin created the UIL section in Belfast. This group became his main political base in Ulster.
In February 1902, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kilkenny North. He was part of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP). That same year, the Party sent him to America to raise money. This was the first of several successful trips. On his first four-month tour, he gave 160 speeches and raised a lot of money. He also helped set up many branches of the United Irish League of America.
When he returned, he became the lifelong Grandmaster of the AOH in Ireland in 1904. Many members of the AOH also joined the Irish Party, which gave Devlin more influence. He also became the General Secretary of the UIL. This gave him control over 1200 UIL branches across Ireland, which were the main support for the Irish Party. Devlin became a key figure in the party, especially for Ulster Nationalism.
Devlin's Great Influence
Joseph Devlin became a very respected Member of Parliament. He was known for two main skills. First, he was a very powerful and convincing speaker. Second, he was excellent at organizing groups. He was not only the General Secretary of the United Irish League but also led the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was one of the few younger politicians who was close to the main leaders of the Irish Parliamentary Party. Many thought he would become the party's future leader.
Devlin also worked to improve social conditions. He focused on issues like working conditions in the linen mills and textile factories. He was a strong voice for the rights of workers.
In the 1906 British general election, Devlin won seats in both Kilkenny North and Belfast West. He chose to keep the Belfast seat. He remained its MP even after 1918, when the Irish Parliamentary Party lost much of its power. Devlin's AOH political network became very strong across Ireland. It helped the Irish Party by ensuring many supporters attended meetings and events.
However, not everyone supported the AOH. The All-for-Ireland League (AFIL) strongly opposed it. They believed Devlin's AOH caused religious bullying and division. In 1909, Devlin's supporters attacked William O'Brien and his followers at a meeting in Dublin. This event became known as the "Baton Convention."
Home Rule and World War I
When World War I started in August 1914, Devlin supported John Redmond's decision. Redmond was the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He decided to support Britain's war effort and encourage Irish men to join the army. Devlin believed that showing loyalty to the British Empire would help Ireland get Home Rule. Home Rule meant Ireland would have its own government but still be part of the British Empire.
Devlin said that if Ireland was given its freedom, it would support the Empire. However, some, like the Republican James Connolly, criticized Devlin for encouraging men to join the war.
After the Easter Rising in 1916, Devlin agreed to a temporary plan to exclude six counties in Northern Ireland from Home Rule. This was to help with peace talks. However, during the Irish Convention, he sided with the bishops. They blocked a compromise on Home Rule that Redmond had made with Southern Unionists. In April 1918, Devlin signed a pledge against forced military service. In the 1918 Irish general election, he was re-elected as MP for Belfast Falls. He defeated Éamon de Valera of Sinn Féin. Devlin was one of the very few Irish Parliamentary Party MPs to keep their seats in that election.
Leader in Northern Ireland
From 1919 to 1921, Joseph Devlin led a small group of six Nationalist MPs. His efforts to unite nationalist groups were difficult. This was because some nationalists in west Ulster were unhappy that he had accepted the temporary division of Ireland in 1916. He decided not to get involved in all-Ireland politics. He accepted that the main political power had shifted to Sinn Féin.
In February 1920, Devlin was sure that a Parliament would be set up for six counties in Ulster. He warned that this would lead to "permanent partition" and that Catholics and Nationalists would always be a minority. He spoke in the British House of Commons when the Government of Ireland Act 1920 was passed. This Act created the Parliament of Northern Ireland. Devlin clearly expressed the feelings of many Nationalists about this division. He said that the Act did not protect the interests of their people. He feared that with their own Parliament, the Unionists would have even more power and authority.
In 1921, Devlin agreed to work with Éamon de Valera to prevent the Ulster Unionist Party from winning too easily in the first election for the Northern Ireland House of Commons. Nationalists and Sinn Féiners worked together. They won six seats each, while the Unionists won 40. Devlin was elected for both Antrim and Belfast West. He chose to represent Belfast West. He continued to sit in the UK Parliament at Westminster as the leader of the Nationalist Party of Northern Ireland. Both small parties did not recognize the new Parliament at Stormont.
Devlin was re-elected in Belfast West in 1925. He then decided to lead his party to sit in the Parliament of Northern Ireland for the first time. He became the head of the opposition. His goal was to highlight the problems faced by Catholics, especially concerning education.
From 1929 until his death, Joe Devlin was the Northern Ireland MP for Belfast Central. In 1930, he helped change the Northern Ireland Education Act. This change improved funding for Catholic schools. However, these were difficult years for northern Catholics. After 1932, his party stopped attending the Belfast parliament again due to changes in the voting system.
After Devlin's death, James Craig, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, spoke highly of him. He said that even though they were political opponents for over thirty years, he always admired Devlin's character.
Personal Life
Joseph Devlin was known as "Wee Joe" by his supporters. They liked him for his friendly and lively personality. He was a very good and powerful speaker. In his later years, he was financially comfortable. He was a director of a distillery company and chairman of the Irish News. He enjoyed organizing summer festivals for children in Belfast, which he called "days of delight." He was known for getting things done.
He lived most of his life in Belfast, although he spent some earlier years in London. For decades, he was a recognized spokesperson and leader for Catholic nationalists in Ulster. Joseph Devlin passed away in Belfast on 18 January 1934. He was buried at Milltown Cemetery. His funeral was attended by important members of both the Irish governments. A hall in Ardboe, County Tyrone, is named after him.
He never married.
