Robert Hugh Hanley Baird
Sir Robert Hugh Hanley Baird KBE (1855–1934) was a newspaper proprietor from Northern Ireland. He was born in Belfast and educated at Model School and Royal Belfast Academical Institution. In 1869, he entered the firm of W. & G. Baird, Arthur Street, Belfast, and was present at the first publication of The Telegraph, on 1 September 1870. Baird served as managing director of W & G Baird from 1886 until his death in 1934. He founded and owned a series of newspapers, including: the Belfast Weekly Telegraph (1873), Ballymena Weekly Telegraph (1887), Ireland's Saturday Night (1894), Belfast Telegraph (1904), Irish Daily Telegraph (1904) and The Larne Times (1891).
Baird was a lifelong member and supporter of St George's Church, Belfast. He died in 1934 and is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.[1] After his death a stained glass window by Clokey & Co. in Belfast was erected in his memory by the parishioners of his church, depicting the Good Samaritan.[2]
Offices Held
- President, Master Printers' Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, 1910
- President, Irish Newspaper Society, 1913–1925
- Chairman, Ulster District, Institute of Journalists, 1916 and Fellow of the Institute
- Chairman, Belfast District, Newspaper Press Fund, 1910–1934
- Irish Representative, Admiralty, War Office and Press Committee 1916-1934
- Member Advisory Trade Committee of Paper Commission
- Freeman, City of London and Member of Worshipful Company of Stationers (1921–1934)
- Member of Senate of Queen's University, Belfast (1929–1934).[3]
References
- Walker, Brian M. (2016). A History of St George's Church Belfast – Two Centuries of Faith, Worship and Music. Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation. pp. 103, 116. ISBN 978-1-909556-53-9.
- A Dictionary of Irish History, D.J.Hickey & J.E.Doherty, Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1980. Pp. page 21. ISBN 0-7171-1567-4