Sir Josias Cunningham, DL (20 January 1934Britannica – 9 August 2000) was a Northern Irish stock broker, farmer and politician.
Early life Josias Cunningham, known as "Joe", the grandson of Samuel Cunningham, was born into a family of stock brokers, the family firm being Cunningham Coates. The family also owned The Northern Whig newspaper. He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, where his uncles James Glencairn Cunningham and Dunlop McCosh Cunningham had attended. He then went on to read biological sciences at Clare College, Cambridge, where his uncle and politician Knox Cunningham had also attended.BBC report on deathFernhill House History
Career and politics As well as working in the family firm he farmed of County Antrim. In 1991, upon the death of Sir George Clarke, he was elected President of the Ulster Unionist Council and was one of the last remainders of Northern Ireland's moneyed families to remain involved in politics through "The Troubles".Obituary, nytimes.com. Accessed 6 January 2023. He was a member of the Orange Order, independent.co.uk. Accessed 6 January 2023. and lived on his farm at Templepatrick, County Antrim.
Death Sir Josias Cunningham died in a car accident at Carryduff, County Down in 2000, aged 66. His funeral took place in 1st Donegore Presbyterian Church. He was married and had four children. The UUP headquarters, Cunningham House, was named in his family's honour, and was dedicated by his widow.The Sunday Life
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