Tom Benson (politician)
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use Irish English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox MLA
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Tom Benson
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|imagesize = 150px
|alt =
|caption =
|constituency_AM = Strangford
|assembly = Northern Ireland
|majority =
|term_start = 25 June 1998
|term_end = 24 December 2000
|predecessor = New Creation
|successor = Thomas Hamilton
| office1 = Member of
Ards Borough Council
| constituency1 = Ards East
| term_start1 = 19 May 1993
| term_end1 = 7 June 2001
| predecessor1 = New district
| successor1 = Terence Williams
| constituency2 = Newtownards
| term_start2 = 15 May 1985
| term_end2 = 19 May 1993
| predecessor2 = New district
| successor2 = Thomas Hamilton
| office3 = Northern Ireland Forum Member
for Strangford
| term_start3 = 30 May 1996
| term_end3 = 25 April 1998
| predecessor3 = New forum
| successor3 = Forum dissolved
|birth_date = {{birth date|1929|08|26|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
|death_date = {{death date and age|2000|12|24|1929|08|26|df=yes}}
|death_place =
|restingplace =
|birthname =
|nationality = British
|party = Ulster Unionist Party
|otherparty =
|spouse = Ann
|relations =
|children =
|residence =
|alma_mater =
|occupation =
|profession =
|cabinet =
|committees =
|portfolio =
|religion =
|signature =
|signature_alt=
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Tom Benson (26 August 1929 – 24 December 2000) was an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Strangford from 1998 to 2000.
Biography
Born in Enniskillen, Benson was an officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and was elected to Ards Borough Council, serving as Mayor of Ards from 1987–88.[http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/biogs/tbenson.htm Biography – Tom Benson, Northern Ireland Assembly] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090230/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/biogs/tbenson.htm |date=29 September 2007 }} During this year, he defied a ban on UUP representatives meeting Government ministers and met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Tom King."[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article1043354.ece Tributes paid to UUP man]", Belfast Telegraph, 26 December 2000
In 1996, Benson was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum representing Strangford, and he held his seat at the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election. He fell ill in November 2000 and died the following month. He was the first member of the Assembly to die, and was replaced by Thomas Hamilton, his hand-picked successor."[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article823776.ece Assembly in tribute to Tom Benson]", Belfast Telegraph, 15 January 2001
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|ni/for}}
{{s-new | Forum}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Member for Strangford
| years = 1996–1998
}}
{{s-non | reason = Forum dissolved }}
{{s-par|ni/ass}}
{{s-new | Assembly }}
{{s-ttl
| title = MLA for Strangford
| years = 1998–2000
}}
{{s-aft | after = Thomas Hamilton }}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Tom}}
Category:Members of the Northern Ireland Forum
Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 1998–2003
Category:Members of Ards Borough Council
Category:Ulster Unionist Party MLAs
Category:Royal Ulster Constabulary officers