Sheldon, William Alexander Watson

by Angela Murphy

Sheldon, William Alexander Watson (1907–99), politician, was born 18 January 1907 in 45 Beechwood Avenue, Derry city, eldest child of Samuel James Sheldon, draper's assistant, and Jeane Sheldon (neé Watson). From a protestant background, he was educated at Foyle College, Derry, and later studied mathematics and science in QUB. In 1942 he moved to Raphoe, Co. Donegal. The following year, he was elected to the dáil for Clann na Talmhan in the largely protestant constituency of Donegal East. Although he switched allegiance to the Farmers’ Union in the 1944 election, he still managed to retain his seat. In the subsequent election of 1948 he returned to the dáil as an independent and supported the first inter-party government. Nonetheless, in 1950 he denounced the government's declaration of a republic and withdrew his support. Consequently, in 1951 he supported the Fianna Fáil minority government. Taking an active role in the dáil, he was a member of the public accounts committee (1944–61). He was also a member of Donegal county council (1945–55). In 1959 he supported the Fianna Fáil government's campaign for the abolition of proportional representation, which was uncharacteristic of a protestant independent TD. As a result, on 10 June he was allotted one of the six party political broadcasts from Radio Éireann. When the Donegal East constituency was broken up (1961), he decided not to stand for reelection. However, in that same year Seán Lemass (qv) nominated him to the seanad, and he became a member – and later chairman (1964) – of the statutory instruments committee of Seanad Éireann, positions he held until his retirement in 1973.

He was very much involved in the Church of Ireland and served on the select vestry of St Eunan's cathedral, Raphoe. He was also a member of the diocesan council of Derry and Raphoe, and was lay honorary secretary to the general synod of the Church of Ireland. Moreover, in 1982 he was the legal assessor to the primate when the bill enabling women to become deacons was introduced into synod. Always recognised as a gentleman, he had a great interest in fishing and was a member of the Rosses Anglers Association. He died 1 November 1999 at Letterkenny general hospital.

He married (1942), in Raphoe, Margaret Jean Whyte; they lived in Kinclassagh, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.