Tom Benson (politician)

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.

Tom Benson
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Strangford
In office 25 June 1998 – 24 December 2000
Preceded by	New Creation
Succeeded by	Thomas Hamilton
Member of Ards Borough Council
In office 19 May 1993 – 7 June 2001
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	Terence Williams
Constituency	Ards East
In office 15 May 1985 – 19 May 1993
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	Thomas Hamilton
Constituency	Newtownards
Northern Ireland Forum Member for Strangford
In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998
Preceded by	New forum
Succeeded by	Forum dissolved
Personal details
Born	(1929-08-26)26 August 1929 Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Died	24 December 2000(2000-12-24) (aged 71)
Nationality	British
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse	Ann

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.^[1] During this year, he defied a ban on UUP representatives meeting Government ministers and met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Tom King.^[2]

In 1996, Benson was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum representing Strangford, and he held his seat at the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election.^[1] He fell ill in November 2000 and died the following month.^[2] He was the first member of the Assembly to die, and was replaced by Thomas Hamilton, his hand-picked successor.^[3]