Sir James Corry, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir James Porter Corry (born September 8, 1826 – died November 28, 1891) was an important Irish politician. He worked as a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years. An MP is a person chosen by voters to represent them in the country's main law-making body, called Parliament. Sir James was first a member of the Conservative Party and later joined the Irish Unionist Alliance.
Early Life and Family
James Corry was born in Newtownards, a town in County Down, Ireland. His father, Robert Corry, owned a quarry and was also a timber merchant in Belfast. A quarry is a place where stone is dug out of the ground.
Young James went to school at the Royal Belfast Academic Institution. After finishing school, he joined his family's business. Their company sold timber, which is wood used for building. At that time, Belfast was growing fast and needed a lot of timber for new buildings in its busy port.
Becoming a Politician
Sir James Corry first became an MP in 1874. He was elected to represent the city of Belfast in the UK Parliament. This was during a big election called the 1874 general election.
Later, in 1885, the way areas were divided for elections changed. Because of this, the Belfast area he represented was removed.
A Special Title
On September 15, 1885, Sir James was given a special honor. He was made a baronet. This is a title that is passed down through the family, similar to a knight, but it can be inherited. His title was "Baronet, of Dunraven, Antrim".
Representing Mid Armagh
On February 1, 1886, Sir James became an MP again. This time, he represented the area of Mid Armagh. He was elected in a special election called a by-election. A by-election happens when an MP leaves their job or passes away before the next general election.
In July 1891, Sir James joined a new political group called the Irish Unionist Alliance. He continued to work as an MP until he passed away in November 1891. He died at his home, Dunraven, which was on the Malone Road in Belfast. After his death, his son, William, received the baronet title.
