Sir Josias CUNNINGHAM

   User ID: ID.167.

  General Notes:

Josias was awarded a knighthood in the 1999 New Year's Honours List for his work in Northern Ireland.
From a BBC Article of 31 December 1999:-
Ulster Unionist President, Sir Josias Cunningham, said he was amazed at his award and spoke of the need for positive thinking in the coming weeks.
He said: "I think one has to keep optimistic, one has to keep positive. "We do need to see some movement, there is no doubt. If there is some movement, I think the future is absolutely wide open with tremendous potential."
Described as an elder statesman within the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr Cunningham has been president of the UUP Council since 1990.
Born into a farming family in south Co Antrim and educated at Cambridge, he wa a Deputy Grand Master of the Orange Order. Sir Josias saw his responsibility as serving the party and the community and "making sure the party carried through its procedures properly".


He was a key figure for more than 25 years in the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Northern Ireland's largest Protestant political party, and was president of the UUP's governing body, the Ulster Unionist Council, from 1991. A moderate who was skilled at behind-the-scenes negotiations, he was considered instrumental in finalising in early 2000 the power-sharing arrangement with Sinn Fein, the political arm of the Irish Republican Army. He died in an automobile accident. The Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, returned from holiday to attend Sir Josias' funeral.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Religion: C of E.

Josias married Anne WEBB, daughter of Charles WEBB and Jean COLVILLE.