Hugh Smyth

Hugh Smyth OBE
Smyth in his mayoral robes, 1994
President of the Progressive Unionist Party
In office 15 October 2011 – 12 May 2014
Leader	Billy Hutchinson
Succeeded by	Billy Hutchinson
Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
Interim 2 June 2011 – 15 October 2011
Preceded by	Brian Ervine
Succeeded by	Billy Hutchinson
In office 1979 – April 2002
Preceded by	Party created
Succeeded by	David Ervine
51st Lord Mayor of Belfast
In office 1 June 1994 – 1 June 1995
Deputy	Ian Adamson
Preceded by	Reg Empey
Succeeded by	Eric Smyth
Member of Belfast City Council
In office 15 May 1985 – 12 May 2014
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Billy Hutchinson
Constituency	Court
In office 13 May 1972 – 15 May 1985
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Belfast Area E
Member of the Northern Ireland Forum
In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998
Preceded by	Forum created
Succeeded by	Forum dissolved
Constituency	Top-up list
Member of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention for Belfast West
In office 1975–1976
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast West
In office 28 June 1973 – 1974
Personal details
Born	16 March 1939[1] [2] Woodvale, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died	12 May 2014 (aged 75) Belfast, Northern Ireland
Political party	Progressive Unionist Party (1979–2014)
Other political affiliations	Volunteer Political Party (1974) Independent Unionist (1973–1979)
Spouse	Ellen Smyth ​ (m. 1974)​
Known for	Ulster loyalist politician

Hugh Smyth OBE (16 March 1939 – 12 May 2014) was a Northern Irish Ulster Loyalist and politician who was leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) from 1979 to 2002, as well as during an interim period in 2011.^[3] He was Lord Mayor of Belfast from 1994 to 1995, as well as a Belfast City Councillor for the Court (formerly Belfast Area E) DEA from 1972 to 2014, making him one of the longest-serving members on the Council.^[4] Smyth was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the 1996 New Year's Honours list.^[5]