Ian Paisley

Date of Birth: April 6, 1926

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: September 12, 2014

Biography

Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, was a prominent Northern Irish politician and Protestant religious leader. Born on April 6, 1926, in Armagh, Northern Ireland, Paisley was a pivotal figure in the political landscape of Northern Ireland for over half a century. He co-founded the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in 1971 and led it for nearly 40 years. A staunch unionist, he was known for his uncompromising stance on maintaining Northern Ireland’s union with Great Britain and his opposition to Irish nationalism and Roman Catholicism. Paisley began his career as a preacher, founding the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951. His evangelical fervor and charismatic oratory skills quickly made him a significant figure in both religious and political spheres. He entered the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1970 and was elected to the UK Parliament in 1979, where he served until 2010. Paisley was also a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2004. In 2007, after years of political turmoil and conflict, Paisley played a crucial role in the peace process by agreeing to share power with Sinn Féin, a nationalist party. He became the First Minister of Northern Ireland, serving until 2008. His later years were marked by a more conciliatory approach, and he was made a life peer in 2010, taking the title Baron Bannside. Ian Paisley passed away on September 12, 2014, leaving behind a complex legacy as both a divisive and transformative figure in Northern Irish history.

5 Interesting Facts about Ian Paisley

1. Ian Paisley co-founded the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in 1971.

2. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2004.

3. Paisley founded the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951.

4. He served as the First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2008.

5. Paisley was made a life peer in 2010, taking the title Baron Bannside.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ian Paisley

1. “Ulster says no!”

2. “I will never sit down with Gerry Adams… he’ll sit with me.”

3. “The future is bright for those who are prepared to endure.”

4. “I am not going to give my consent to the destruction of Northern Ireland.”

5. “There will be no compromise in the defense of our Protestant faith.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ian Paisley’s highest net worth was estimated to be around £1 million at the peak of his political career.

Children

Ian Paisley had five children: three sons, Kyle, Ian, and Rhonda, and two daughters, Sharon and Cherith. His son Ian Paisley Jr. followed in his father’s political footsteps and is a member of the UK Parliament representing North Antrim.