Hugo Victor Flinn (8 September 1879 – 28 January 1943) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and businessman.[1]
Hugo Flinn | |
|---|---|
 Flinn in 1933 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary | |
| 1941–1943 | Local Government and Public Health |
| 1932–1943 | Finance |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office September 1927 – 28 January 1943 | |
| Constituency | Cork Borough |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 September 1879 Peel, Isle of Man |
| Died | 28 January 1943 (aged 63) Cobh, County Cork, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse |
Monica Marble Wilson
(m. 1921) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | Royal University of Ireland |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Ordnance Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
He was born in Peel, Isle of Man in 1879, one of four children of Hugo Flinn, wholesale fish merchant with wide interests in Ireland and Liverpool, and his wife (Mary) Kate (née Condren or Condran).[2] The family's residence alternated on a six-month basis between Arklow, County Wicklow, and Kinsale, County Cork, according to the seasonal nature of the fish trade. He was educated at Dungarvan, Kinsale, Mungret College, and Clongowes Wood College (1892–1897). He graduated from the Royal University of Ireland in 1899.[2]
His family moved to England where he qualified as an electrical engineer and worked with the Liverpool Electricity Supply Board. He assumed the management of his father's business before joining the British Army on the outbreak of World War I. Attached to the Ordnance Corps, he was demobilised as a captain in 1918. On the death of his father in 1919, he disposed of the family business and established himself in Cork as an electrical engineer.
In 1925 he came to public attention when he started a campaign to abolish Income tax.[3]
Flinn was courted by the Fianna Fáil party and was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork Borough constituency at the September 1927 general election.[1] He retained his seat at each subsequent election until his death in 1943.[4][5] No by-election was held for his seat.
After Fianna Fáil's election victory in 1932 Flinn was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance. In 1939, he was also appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, serving in both positions until his death.[2]
As Minister of State, he devoted much of his time to the relief of unemployment. On the outbreak of World War II he was appointed turf controller and charged with the task of producing enough fuel to replace the two million tons of coal hitherto imported.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Hugo Flinn". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d Dempsey, Pauric J.; Boylan, Shaun. "Flinn, Hugo Victor". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Irish Election. Vigorous Party Efforts, The Times, 31 August 1927.
- ^ "Hugo Flinn". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ^ "Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 3 February 1943: Death of Two Deputies". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 11 September 2022.