Ian Paisley

Ian Paisley - Politician, Career and Family

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Ian Paisley Biography Stories 

Ian Paisley's Personal Details

Ian Paisley was the former Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and also one of the most influential leaders in the country

InformationDetail
BirthdayApril 6, 1926
Died onSeptember 12, 2014
NationalityIrish
FamousLeaders, Spiritual & Religious Leaders, Irish Men, Politician, Religious Leaders, Spiritual
SpousesEileen Paisley
SiblingsHarold Paisley
Known asIan Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside
ChildrensIan Paisley
Universities
  • Wales Evangelical School of Theology
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Democratic Unionist Party
  • Protestant Unionist Party
  • Ulster Resistance
Birth PlaceArmagh
Political IdeologyLeader of the Democratic Unionist Party,Leader of the Protestant Unionist Party
ReligionFree Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Protestantism
GenderMale
FatherJames Kyle Paisley
MotherIsabella Paisley
Sun SignAries
Born inArmagh
Famous asPolitician
Died at Age88

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Ian Paisley's photo

Who is Ian Paisley?

Born to deeply religious parents, Ian Paisley knew from an early age that he was destined to become theclergy. After giving his first sermon as a teenager, he enrolled in theological school and became an ordained minister. After a highly controversial sermon got him banned from his home church, Paisley founded his own sect, installing himself as its permanent leader. Liberally fond of the bully pulpit, Paisley used his booming voice to rant against all things Catholic, homosexual or different, whipping up his congregation to join him on contentious protest marches. Despite multiple arrests for disorderly conduct, he remained determined to stay mired in controversy. Believing that politicians were too ‘soft’, Paisley founded his own hardline party. With his firebrand sermons and his self-admitted bigoted political and religious ideology, Paisley became the uncompromising face of the Unionist cause during the ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. But as he neared the end of his life, Paisley surprised even his most faithful supporters when he agreed to sit down with his lifelong political rivals in an effort to bring an end to the bloodshed and strife. While it is deeply lamentable that Paisley's harsh, uncompromising rhetoric was responsible for stoking ethnic strife in Northern Ireland, it is recognized that peace would not have been possible without his support

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Childhood & Early Life

Ian Paisley was born Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, on April 6, 1926, in Armagh, Northern Ireland. His father was a Baptist preacher and his mother was a Christian evangelist.

Paisley gave his first sermon in 1941 when he was only 16. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister five years later.

In 1951, after a conflict with church elders, Paisley formed his own congregation, the ‘Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster’.

Paisley gained national fame, in 1956, after he illegally helped a 15-year-old Catholic girl escape to Scotland.

Later Life

In 1956, Paisley co-founded of the ‘Ulster Protestant Action’ (UPA), one of several pro-Unionist militant organizations in Northern Ireland which remained active throughout ‘The Troubles’.

In 1959, he urged the UPA to attack Catholic homes in Belfast. Several businesses were ransacked and looted.

Paisley led a march in Belfast to force a local politician to remove the Irish flag from his office, in 1964. His rhetoric march ended in riots and mayhem that injureddozens.

In 1966, he co-founded a second pro-Unionist militant organization, the ‘Ulster Constitution Defence Committee’ (UCDC), which later aligned with the ‘Ulster Protestant Volunteers’ (UPV).

On June 6, 1966, the religious leader spearheadedthe march into Catholic neighborhoods of Belfast that led to riots. He was arrested and sentenced to three months in jail.

In 1969, the UPV firebombed water and electrical installations in Northern Ireland and Paisley blamed his rivals in the ‘Irish Republican Army’ (IRA) for the damage.

On April 28, 1969, support for Unionist PM Terence O'Neill waned following the bombings committed by the UPV but blamed on the IRA and he resigned from the post of Prime Minister.

In August 1969, wide scale riots in Belfast led to the deployment of British troops, officially beginning the period of civil unrest known as ‘The Troubles’

On April 16, 1970, special by-elections were held and O'Neill's vacated seat in North Antrim was won by Paisley, who went on to hold the position for the next 40 years.

In 1971, he founded the ‘Democratic Unionist Party’ (DUP), which he ledfor the next thirty seven years.

In 1973, the ‘Sunningdale Agreement’ set up a framework for Unionists and Nationalists to share power in Northern Ireland. This was bitterly opposed by Paisley and the DUP.

In 1977, Paisley led a general strike to force the British government to take stronger measures against the IRA. Two years laterhe was elected to the European Parliament.

In 1981, he co-founded another pro-Unionist militant organization called the ‘Third Force’.

In 1998, eight parties in Ireland and Northern Ireland signed the Good Friday agreements in an attempt to bring peace to the region. Although 70% of the voters in Northern Ireland and 90% of the voters in the Republic of Ireland endorsed the agreement, Paisley's DUP refused to participate.

In 2003, Paisley's DUP gained a majority position in the Northern Ireland assembly (parliament). Ironically three years laterhe reverseddecades of opposition and agreed to a power sharing agreement with his lifelong rivals, Sinn Fein.

In 2007, Paisley became the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, the Republican Party’s Martin McGuinness serving as his Deputy First Minister. Paisley and McGuinnessestablish an amicable relationship andwere nicknamed the ‘Chuckle Brothers’.

In 2008, due to declining health among other reasons, Paisley stepped down as Prime Minister and rapidly began to isolate himself from public life.

Major Works

Paisley's historic agreement in 2006 to share power with his lifelong rivals is believed to be the key turning point that has led to a lasting and prosperous peace in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Following the change of political stance he was elected Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

Awards & Achievements

Paisley was conferred with an honorary ‘Doctorate of Divinity’ from ‘Bob Jones University’ in 1966.

The religious leader and politician, became a British life peer and wasawarded the title ‘Lord Bannside of North Antrim’ on June 18, 2010.

Personal Life & Legacy

Paisley’s DUP is currently still the most powerful party in Northern Ireland and ‘The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster’, which he founded in 1951, now has 12,000 members worldwide.

He exchanged the nuptial vows with Eileen (nee Cassells) on October 13, 1956 and is survived by five children: Rhonda, Sharon, Cherith, Kyle and Ian Junior.

His son Ian Paisley, Jr. succeeded him in 2010 as the Member of Parliament representing North Antrim.

On 12 September 2014, surrounded by his wife of more than 50 years and his loving family, Paisley died of heart failure in a hospital in Belfast.A public memorial, organized in memory of the leader at the Ulster Hall,was attended by 800 guests.

Trivia

In 1965,this famous religious leader threw snowballs at the visiting Irish Prime Minister

The most famous quote by this politician is‘No surrender!’

This famous personality is nicknamed ‘The Clergyman in Jackboots’ and ‘Dr. No’

This famous politician’s favorite campaign slogan: ‘Vote for my wife's husband’

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Ian Paisley biography timelines

  • // 6th Apr 1926
    Ian Paisley was born Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, on April 6, 1926, in Armagh, Northern Ireland. His father was a Baptist preacher and his mother was a Christian evangelist.
  • // 1941
    Paisley gave his first sermon in 1941 when he was only 16. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister five years later.
  • // 1951
    In 1951, after a conflict with church elders, Paisley formed his own congregation, the ‘Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster’.
  • // 1951
    Paisley’s DUP is currently still the most powerful party in Northern Ireland and ‘The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster’, which he founded in 1951, now has 12,000 members worldwide.
  • // 1956
    Paisley gained national fame, in 1956, after he illegally helped a 15-year-old Catholic girl escape to Scotland.
  • // 1956
    In 1956, Paisley co-founded of the ‘Ulster Protestant Action’ (UPA), one of several pro-Unionist militant organizations in Northern Ireland which remained active throughout ‘The Troubles’.
  • // 13th Oct 1956
    He exchanged the nuptial vows with Eileen (nee Cassells) on October 13, 1956 and is survived by five children: Rhonda, Sharon, Cherith, Kyle and Ian Junior.
  • // 1959
    In 1959, he urged the UPA to attack Catholic homes in Belfast. Several businesses were ransacked and looted.
  • // 1964
    Paisley led a march in Belfast to force a local politician to remove the Irish flag from his office, in 1964. His rhetoric march ended in riots and mayhem that injureddozens.
  • // 1965
    In 1965,this famous religious leader threw snowballs at the visiting Irish Prime Minister
  • // 1966
    In 1966, he co-founded a second pro-Unionist militant organization, the ‘Ulster Constitution Defence Committee’ (UCDC), which later aligned with the ‘Ulster Protestant Volunteers’ (UPV).
  • // 1966
    Paisley was conferred with an honorary ‘Doctorate of Divinity’ from ‘Bob Jones University’ in 1966.
  • // 6th Jun 1966
    On June 6, 1966, the religious leader spearheadedthe march into Catholic neighborhoods of Belfast that led to riots. He was arrested and sentenced to three months in jail.
  • // 1969
    In 1969, the UPV firebombed water and electrical installations in Northern Ireland and Paisley blamed his rivals in the ‘Irish Republican Army’ (IRA) for the damage.
  • // 28th Apr 1969
    On April 28, 1969, support for Unionist PM Terence O'Neill waned following the bombings committed by the UPV but blamed on the IRA and he resigned from the post of Prime Minister.
  • // Aug 1969
    In August 1969, wide scale riots in Belfast led to the deployment of British troops, officially beginning the period of civil unrest known as ‘The Troubles’
  • // 16th Apr 1970
    On April 16, 1970, special by-elections were held and O'Neill's vacated seat in North Antrim was won by Paisley, who went on to hold the position for the next 40 years.
  • // 1971
    In 1971, he founded the ‘Democratic Unionist Party’ (DUP), which he ledfor the next thirty seven years.
  • // 1973
    In 1973, the ‘Sunningdale Agreement’ set up a framework for Unionists and Nationalists to share power in Northern Ireland. This was bitterly opposed by Paisley and the DUP.
  • // 1977
    In 1977, Paisley led a general strike to force the British government to take stronger measures against the IRA. Two years laterhe was elected to the European Parliament.
  • // 1981
    In 1981, he co-founded another pro-Unionist militant organization called the ‘Third Force’.
  • // 1998
    In 1998, eight parties in Ireland and Northern Ireland signed the Good Friday agreements in an attempt to bring peace to the region. Although 70% of the voters in Northern Ireland and 90% of the voters in the Republic of Ireland endorsed the agreement, Paisley's DUP refused to participate.
  • // 2003
    In 2003, Paisley's DUP gained a majority position in the Northern Ireland assembly (parliament). Ironically three years laterhe reverseddecades of opposition and agreed to a power sharing agreement with his lifelong rivals, Sinn Fein.
  • // 2006
    Paisley's historic agreement in 2006 to share power with his lifelong rivals is believed to be the key turning point that has led to a lasting and prosperous peace in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Following the change of political stance he was elected Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
  • // 2007
    In 2007, Paisley became the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, the Republican Party’s Martin McGuinness serving as his Deputy First Minister. Paisley and McGuinnessestablish an amicable relationship andwere nicknamed the ‘Chuckle Brothers’.
  • // 2008
    In 2008, due to declining health among other reasons, Paisley stepped down as Prime Minister and rapidly began to isolate himself from public life.
  • // 2010
    His son Ian Paisley, Jr. succeeded him in 2010 as the Member of Parliament representing North Antrim.
  • // 18th Jun 2010
    The religious leader and politician, became a British life peer and wasawarded the title ‘Lord Bannside of North Antrim’ on June 18, 2010.
  • // 12th Sep 2014
    On 12 September 2014, surrounded by his wife of more than 50 years and his loving family, Paisley died of heart failure in a hospital in Belfast.A public memorial, organized in memory of the leader at the Ulster Hall,was attended by 800 guests.

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Ian Paisley's FAQ

  • What is Ian Paisley birthday?

    Ian Paisley was born at 1926-04-06

  • When was Ian Paisley died?

    Ian Paisley was died at 2014-09-12

  • Where was Ian Paisley died?

    Ian Paisley was died in Belfast

  • Which age was Ian Paisley died?

    Ian Paisley was died at age 88

  • Where is Ian Paisley's birth place?

    Ian Paisley was born in Armagh

  • What is Ian Paisley nationalities?

    Ian Paisley's nationalities is Irish

  • Who is Ian Paisley spouses?

    Ian Paisley's spouses is Eileen Paisley

  • Who is Ian Paisley siblings?

    Ian Paisley's siblings is Harold Paisley

  • Who is Ian Paisley childrens?

    Ian Paisley's childrens is Ian Paisley

  • What was Ian Paisley universities?

    Ian Paisley studied at Wales Evangelical School of Theology

  • Which company or organization was founded by Ian Paisley?

    Ian Paisley was the founder/co-founder of Democratic Unionist Party, Protestant Unionist Party, Ulster Resistance

  • What is Ian Paisley's political ideology?

    Ian Paisley's political ideology is Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party,Leader of the Protestant Unionist Party

  • What is Ian Paisley's religion?

    Ian Paisley's religion is Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Protestantism

  • Who is Ian Paisley's father?

    Ian Paisley's father is James Kyle Paisley

  • Who is Ian Paisley's mother?

    Ian Paisley's mother is Isabella Paisley

  • What is Ian Paisley's sun sign?

    Ian Paisley is Aries

  • How famous is Ian Paisley?

    Ian Paisley is famouse as Politician