A history of the Democratic Unionist Party from its formation in 1971 until the present day.
4th September - Meeting in Grand Central Hotel where agreement was reached to form a new political party. Dr Paisley changes to be DUP MP for North Antrim at Westminster having been elected on 18th June 1970
1971
5th October - 4 MPs join the Ulster Democratic Unionist Party at Stormont; Dr Paisley, William Beattie, Desmond Boal and Johnny McQuade. Charles McCullough joined the party in the Senate.
Photo courtesy victorpatterson.com
1971
28th June - 8 members elected to a Northern Ireland Assembly.
1973
1st May - 12 members elected to a Constitutional Convention.
1975
3rd May - 3 MPs elected to Westminster; Dr Paisley, Peter Robinson and Johnny McQuade.
1979
7th June - Dr Paisley elected to the European Parliament.
1979
28th March - The final 'Carson Trail' rally held at Stormont after a series of Provincewide demonstrations held in opposition to the ongoing Anglo-Irish governmental talks.
1981
20th October - 21 members elected to a Northern Ireland Assembly.
1982
9th June - 3 MPs elected to Westminster; William McCrea won Mid Ulster and was returned with Dr Paisley and Peter Robinson.
1983
30th May - 24 members elected to the Northern Ireland Forum.
1996
25th June - 20 members elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
1998
10th June - Dr Paisley tops the poll in fifth consecutive European Election.
1999
21st September - William McCrea wins By Election in South Antrim
2000
7th June - 3 new members join Dr Paisley and Peter Robinson at Westminster; Iris Robinson, Gregory Campbell and Nigel Dodds.
2001
28th November - The DUP becomes the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly with 30 members elected.
2003
5th January - DUP representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly increased to 33 with the defection from the UUP of Jeffrey Donaldson, Arlene Foster and Nora Beare. Jeffrey Donaldson also joins the DUP team at Westminster.
2004
10th June - The DUP once again tops the poll in the European Election following the retirement from Europe of Dr Paisley.
2004
5th May - 9 MPs elected to Westminster with the addition of Sammy Wilson, David Simpson and William McCrea to the existing DUP representatives. The DUP assumes the position as the largest party in Local Government with 182 Councillors.
2005
7th March - 36 DUP MLAs returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the first election following the St Andrews Agreement.
2007
8th May - Dr Paisley becomes the First Minister of Northern Ireland.
2007
5th June - Peter Robinson becomes Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and First Minister of Northern Ireland after Dr Paisley steps down from both positions.
2008
4th June - Diane Dodds becomes the DUP Member of the European Parliament.
2009
5th May - The DUP is returned once again as the largest party in Northern Ireland, increasing its representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly to 38.
2011
