Patricia Ford (politician) facts for kids

Patricia Ford, Lady Fisher (born Smiles; 5 April 1921 – 23 May 1995) was an important politician from Northern Ireland. She was a member of the Ulster Unionist Party. Patricia Ford made history as the first woman MP from Northern Ireland. She was also the second woman from the island of Ireland to be elected to the Westminster Parliament in London. She was the first to actually take her seat there.

Patricia Ford's Early Life

Patricia Smiles was born in Donaghadee, County Down, which is in Northern Ireland. She went to school at Bangor Collegiate School and Glendower Preparatory School in London. She also studied abroad. Her father was Sir Walter D. Smiles, who was also an Ulster Unionist MP. Her mother's name was Margaret Heigway.

Her Political Journey

Patricia Ford had been living in Cheshire, England. She returned home after her father sadly died in a ship disaster in January 1953. She was then elected to Parliament without anyone opposing her in his old area, North Down.

When she gave her very first speech in Parliament, called a maiden speech, she had to say sorry. This was because of an article she had written for a newspaper called the Sunday Express. The article mentioned that two other women MPs had been snoring. This matter was looked into by a special group called the Committee for Privileges.

Patricia Ford strongly believed that men and women should be paid the same for doing the same job. She even rode to Parliament in a horse-drawn carriage to bring attention to this important issue. She decided to leave politics at the 1955 general election. In 1972, she helped start a group called the Women Caring Trust. This group is now known as Hope for Youth Northern Ireland.

Patricia Ford's Family Life

In 1941, Patricia married Neville Montagu Ford, who was a cricketer. They had two daughters together. Their daughter Sarah later married Sir Michael Grylls. Sarah and Michael's son is the famous explorer, Bear Grylls. Her other daughter, Mary Rose, is also married and has two daughters.

Patricia Ford later divorced her first husband. In 1956, she married Sir Nigel Fisher, who was also an MP. When her husband was made a knight in 1974, she became known as Lady Fisher. She also became a stepmother to Mark Fisher, who later became a Labour Party MP.