Brooke, Sir Basil, 1st Lord Brookeborough (1880-1974). Prime minister of Northern lreland 1943-63. Descended from Ulster plantation landowners, Brooke came to politics after a military career. He was behind the establishment of the Ulster Special Constabulary, minister of agriculture 1933-40, and the most active of Sir James Craig's administration. Minister of commerce 1940-3, his criticism of the ineffective response to wartime led to his premiership. He was an intransigent opponent of concessions to catholic minority and conservative in economic affairs.

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