David Trimble

He married Heather McComb in 1968; the marriage ended in divorce in 1976.

In 1978, he married a former student of his, Daphne Elizabeth. Together, they have four children. His wife shares his political passion and herself served as a member of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

The political passion passed on from mother and father to their son as well. One of his sons, Nicholas Trimble, is the Secretary of the Ulster Unionist Branch in Lisburn.

He was born on October 15, 1944 in Bangor, Northern Ireland, to William and Ivy Trimble. Though they were lower-middle class Presbyterians, they were able to send him to Bangor Grammar School. Lisburn

In 1964, he studied at Queen’s University of Belfast and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws. During his time here, he was given the McKane Medal for Jurisprudence. Lisburn

After graduating, he became a professor at the University of Belfast. In 1973, he became the Assistant Dean of the law faculty, and continued to rise to the Head of the Department of Commercial and Property Law. Lisburn

In 1975, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention for the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party. The party was known for its opposition towards the British government’s rule over Northern Ireland. He became a deputy leader of the party.

In 1977, he became a member of the Ulster Unionist Party, the conservative political party in Northern Ireland. At the time, the party was divided over the issue of integration with the United Kingdom and the restoration of Northern Ireland’s government.

In 1990, he resigned from his academic career when he was elected to Parliament. He won with a slight majority (58%) and was one of a handful of politicians who supported the Islamic government of Bosnia. Additionally, it was public knowledge that he had an unforgiving view towards Catholics.

In 1995, he became the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. His election was shocking as he not only defeated favorite front-runner John Taylor, but also won support during the aftermath of the controversial Drumcree conflict.

As a result of his 1998 Belfast Agreement, Trimble was overwhelmingly elected as the First Minister of Northern Ireland. Terms of this agreement involved the decommissioning of the IRA which Trimble struggled to implement during his entire stay in office.

The 1998 Belfast Agreement was Trimble’s plan to take action towards restoring Northern Ireland’s self-government. This agreement, though eventually accepted, was met with much opposition from both parties. This agreement led to his election as the First Minister of Northern Ireland.