William Douglas | |
Office: | Chief whip of the Ulster Unionist Party in the Northern Ireland Assembly |
Leader: | James Molyneaux |
Term Start: | 1982 |
Term End: | 1986 |
Predecessor: | Office created |
Successor: | Office abolished |
Term Start1: | 20 October 1982 |
Term End1: | 1986 |
Predecessor1: | Assembly re-established |
Successor1: | Assembly dissolved |
Term Start2: | 28 June 1973 |
Term End2: | 1974 |
Predecessor2: | Assembly established |
Successor2: | Assembly abolished |
Office3: | Member of the Constitutional Convention for Londonderry |
Term Start3: | 1975 |
Term End3: | 1976 |
Predecessor3: | Convention created |
Successor3: | Convention abolished |
Office4: | Member of Limavady Rural Council |
Term Start4: | 1960 |
Term End4: | 1973 |
Successor4: | Council abolished |
Birth Date: | 10 January 1923 |
Birth Place: | Limavady, Northern Ireland |
Death Date: | 17 May 2013 |
Party: | Ulster Unionist Party |
William Albert Boyd Douglas (10 January 1923 – 17 May 2013[1]) was a Northern Irish unionist politician and farmer.
Douglas worked as a farmer and served as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He rose to prominence as Limavady District Master in the Orange Order, leading protests against the civil rights movement, and organising loyalist demonstrations in Dungiven.[2]
William, also was a man that was capable of writing a catchy melody. He wrote tunes for bands and they are still played today regularly.Most of these tunes were used by his home band;Boveva Flute Band.
Douglas was also active in the Ulster Unionist Party. From 1960 to 1973, he served on Limavady Rural District Council. He was then elected in Londonderry for the Ulster Unionist Party at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election, and held his seat on the Constitutional Convention and at the 1982 Assembly, at which he served as Ulster Unionist Chief Whip. He strongly opposed the Good Friday Agreement.
Douglas' son, known as Boyd Douglas, also became a politician.