Samuel Knox Cunningham

1909–1976

Knox Cunningham grew up in Belfast, and came up to Clare in 1928. As an undergraduate, he threw himself into co-curricular activities, especially boxing. In his final year, he became the University Boxing Club’s heavyweight champion.  

After leaving Cambridge, Cunningham turned to the law, but his career was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. When the war ended, he changed direction and decided to pursue a career in politics. He was elected Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim in 1955 – a constituency he would serve for the next 15 years. During his early years in parliament, he served on the National Executive of the Conservative Party, where he came to the attention of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. In 1959 Macmillan appointed Cunningham as his Parliamentary Private Secretary, entrusting him to nurture positive relationships with government backbenchers. 

In keeping with his Unionist beliefs, Cunningham vigorously opposed suggestions of increased cross-border cooperation on the island of Ireland. For his service to Conservatism and Unionism, he was given a baronetcy in Macmillan’s resignation honours of 1963. 

After retiring from the Commons in 1970, Cunningham served as Master of the Drapers Company and maintained his other lifelong interests. An appointment that gave him particular pleasure was his election in 1974 as vice-president of the Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club.