Joseph Cunningham (Northern Ireland politician)

Joseph Cunningham (1877–July 1965) was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.

Cunningham worked as a shipyard fitter and was elected to the first Senate of Northern Ireland as an Ulster Unionist Party member, despite having no political experience. He became the longest-serving senator, remaining in post until his death in 1965.

My father, John Cunningham (born 14 Oct 1909, died 30 Jan 1997), was the son of Joseph's brother John.

According to my father, Joseph worked as a fitter in the Belfast Ropework Company, not the shipyard. He became Grand Master of the Orange Order in Belfast, and an Alderman on Belfast City Council, but got into political trouble when the city Transport Committee, of which he was Chairman, decided to allow advertisements for intoxicating liqueurs on tramcars. At the time he was elected Senator in the new Northern Ireland parliament, he was working as Secretary of the North Belfast Unionist Labour Association.

Joseph was closely involved with Sir Edward Carson, and was "more or less his constituency agent" in North Belfast.

Joseph's father was also Joseph (1853-1905), who married Mary Rankin. Joseph the younger married Catherine English. They had 8 daughters and 5 sons, although some of them died young.