About Frank Hanna
Lived 1914 – 1987 (aged 72–73). Frank Hanna was a British lawyer, politician and solicitor.
Francis "Frank" Hanna (1914 – 21 November 1987) was an Irish politician.
After studying at St. Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast and Queen's University, Belfast, Hanna became a solicitor, founding Francis Hanna and Co., specialising in personal injuries and trade union cases. A Roman Catholic supportive of a united Ireland, Hanna joined the Nationalist Party and was elected to Belfast City Council.
In 1942, he joined James Collins in defecting to the Northern Ireland Labour Party (NILP), and in a 1946 by-election, he was elected for Belfast Central. Hanna beat Victor Halley of the Socialist Republican Party at the election; the Nationalist Party which had held the seat for many years choosing not to stand.
In 1949, Hanna resigned from the NILP in protest at its support for the partition of Ireland. He was re-elected unopposed as an "Independent Labour" candidate at the 1949 Northern Ireland general election, and shortly afterwards became the vice-chairman of the new Northern Section of the Irish Labour Party. He resigned from the party soon afterwards. In 1958, he set up his own Independent Labour Group, with support from various Catholic clerics. In 1964, he was one of the original supporters of Unity, but he stood down at the 1965 Northern Ireland general election.
He was the father of the Irish political journalist Vincent Hanna.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Frank Hanna's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Frank Hanna's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Frank Hanna?
Northern Irish politician (1914-1987)
When was Frank Hanna born?
Frank Hanna was born in 1914 in Ireland.
When did Frank Hanna die?
Frank Hanna died on 21 November 1987.
What was Frank Hanna's occupation?
Frank Hanna was a lawyer, politician and solicitor.
What nationality was Frank Hanna?
Frank Hanna was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Frank Hanna (politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Frank Hanna. https://biography.guide/frank-hanna/
MLA: "Frank Hanna." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/frank-hanna/.
Chicago: "Frank Hanna." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/frank-hanna/.
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