Paisley, the Reverend I ‧ an /ˈiːən/ BrE AmE
(1926–) a Northern Irish Protestant political leader, known for speaking very strongly and emotionally in favour of Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom, and against the IRA. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1970, and in 1971 started the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He was ↑ elect ed First Minister of Northern Ireland with Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister in 2007. He ↑ retire d in 2008.