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| − | {{Infobox Officeholder|title = Shannon McGrady|species = Human (''Homo sapiens sapiens'')|name = Shannon Hazel McGrady|birth_date = 2 February 3210|birth_place = [[Wallerstein]], Kolossen System|allegiance = Terran Empire (till 3275) |
+ | {{Infobox Officeholder|title = Shannon Hazel McGrady|species = Human (''Homo sapiens sapiens'')|name = Shannon Hazel McGrady|birth_date = 2 February 3210|birth_place = [[Wallerstein]], Kolossen System|allegiance = Terran Empire (till 3275) |
| − | Central Galactic Union (3275-)|party = [[National Humanist Imperial Labor Party]]|spouse = [[Patrick David McGrady]]|relations = Proinsias McGrady (father)|image = shan.png}} |
+ | Central Galactic Union (3275-)|party = [[National Humanist Imperial Labor Party]]|spouse = [[Patrick David McGrady]]|relations = Proinsias McGrady (father)|image = shan.png|title1 = Chief Tribune|serviceyears = 3276}} |
| − | '''Shannon Hazel McGrady''' (born 2 February 3210) is a Terran spacer politician, lawyer, businesswoman, and stateswoman who has served in elected office since the 3230s, and a former leading member of the [[National Humanist Imperial Labor Party]]. She is most well known for her tenure in the Parliament of the Terran Empire as a National Humanist representative for thirteen years, seven of which she served in the position of Speaker of the House of Commons. After the abolition of the [[Terran Empire|Empire]] and the unification of humanity into the [[Central Galactic Union|Republic]], she was elected as a Senator to the [[Central Galactic Congress]] for the Inner Colonies delegation. She vacated her senatorial seat to become a Tribune in 3276 and was elected Chief Tribune. She also serves concurrently as Chairperson of the Presidium. |
+ | Lady''' Shannon Hazel McGrady''',''' '''1st Baronet (born 2 February 3210) is a Terran spacer politician, lawyer, businesswoman, and stateswoman who has served in elected office since the 3230s, and a former leading member of the [[National Humanist Imperial Labor Party]]. She is most well known for her tenure in the Parliament of the Terran Empire as a National Humanist representative for thirteen years, seven of which she served in the position of Speaker of the House of Commons. After the abolition of the [[Terran Empire|Empire]] and the unification of humanity into the [[Central Galactic Union|Republic]], she was elected as a Senator to the [[Central Galactic Congress]] for the Inner Colonies delegation. She vacated her senatorial seat to become a Tribune in 3276 and was elected Chief Tribune. She also serves concurrently as Chairperson of the Presidium. |
She is the matriarch of the [[McGrady political family]], a large, wealthy, and powerful political and noble family of spacers that have been influential at various points of human cultural, technological, and political development. Shannon's many children include State Security general [[William McGrady]], lawyer [[Genevieve McGrady]], and deceased medical polymath [[Dr. David McGrady]]. |
She is the matriarch of the [[McGrady political family]], a large, wealthy, and powerful political and noble family of spacers that have been influential at various points of human cultural, technological, and political development. Shannon's many children include State Security general [[William McGrady]], lawyer [[Genevieve McGrady]], and deceased medical polymath [[Dr. David McGrady]]. |
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She is the eldest child of businessman Proinsias McGrady, the former head of the [[McGrady Corporation#History|McGrady Financial Group]]. After the company became insolvent, and Proinsias was terminated from executive positions, the family was gradually flung into poverty. Shannon has stated that she lived her youth "in rags". The family still held a large share of stock in the company, however, which allowed Shannon leverage to initiate a hostile takeover in the 3230s. She married mining magnate [[Patrick David McGrady|Patrick David Drake]] in 3233, whom she had met three years prior at a political fundraiser event, and whose considerable industrial and financial resources were key in re-establishing family control over what became the [[McGrady Corporation]] when Drake Industries merged with the McGrady Financial Group following Shannon and Patrick's marriage. |
She is the eldest child of businessman Proinsias McGrady, the former head of the [[McGrady Corporation#History|McGrady Financial Group]]. After the company became insolvent, and Proinsias was terminated from executive positions, the family was gradually flung into poverty. Shannon has stated that she lived her youth "in rags". The family still held a large share of stock in the company, however, which allowed Shannon leverage to initiate a hostile takeover in the 3230s. She married mining magnate [[Patrick David McGrady|Patrick David Drake]] in 3233, whom she had met three years prior at a political fundraiser event, and whose considerable industrial and financial resources were key in re-establishing family control over what became the [[McGrady Corporation]] when Drake Industries merged with the McGrady Financial Group following Shannon and Patrick's marriage. |
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| − | Shannon served in municipal, colonial, and provincial elected office from the 3230s through the |
+ | Shannon served in municipal, colonial, and provincial elected office from the 3230s through the 3260s. In the 3262 General Election, she was selected to join the party parliamentary list and became a Member of Parliament. She held her position for thirteen years, leading the hawkish, republican faction of the National Humanists in Parliament and being known as the "Lioness of the Legislature". During her tenure, she advocated for greater cooperation between human-ruled interstellar states, increased military and social welfare spending, and tax reform favouring corporate expansion in outer colony regions. Her advocacy of human international unity was critical in gathering support for the [[Great War|wartime]] and postwar union of human states under a single government, and she became an active supporter of radical republicanism. Since becoming a Life Senator, she has continued her support of radical unitary policies. |
She is considered one the most iconic spokespersons for [[National Humanist Imperial Labor Party|National Humanism]] in government, and her family's wealth and influence has been noted as a significant contributor to the electoral success of the NHILP in the latter half of the 33rd century. |
She is considered one the most iconic spokespersons for [[National Humanist Imperial Labor Party|National Humanism]] in government, and her family's wealth and influence has been noted as a significant contributor to the electoral success of the NHILP in the latter half of the 33rd century. |
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Revision as of 07:50, 4 March 2015
Lady Shannon Hazel McGrady, 1st Baronet (born 2 February 3210) is a Terran spacer politician, lawyer, businesswoman, and stateswoman who has served in elected office since the 3230s, and a former leading member of the National Humanist Imperial Labor Party. She is most well known for her tenure in the Parliament of the Terran Empire as a National Humanist representative for thirteen years, seven of which she served in the position of Speaker of the House of Commons. After the abolition of the Empire and the unification of humanity into the Republic, she was elected as a Senator to the Central Galactic Congress for the Inner Colonies delegation. She vacated her senatorial seat to become a Tribune in 3276 and was elected Chief Tribune. She also serves concurrently as Chairperson of the Presidium.
She is the matriarch of the McGrady political family, a large, wealthy, and powerful political and noble family of spacers that have been influential at various points of human cultural, technological, and political development. Shannon's many children include State Security general William McGrady, lawyer Genevieve McGrady, and deceased medical polymath Dr. David McGrady.
She is the eldest child of businessman Proinsias McGrady, the former head of the McGrady Financial Group. After the company became insolvent, and Proinsias was terminated from executive positions, the family was gradually flung into poverty. Shannon has stated that she lived her youth "in rags". The family still held a large share of stock in the company, however, which allowed Shannon leverage to initiate a hostile takeover in the 3230s. She married mining magnate Patrick David Drake in 3233, whom she had met three years prior at a political fundraiser event, and whose considerable industrial and financial resources were key in re-establishing family control over what became the McGrady Corporation when Drake Industries merged with the McGrady Financial Group following Shannon and Patrick's marriage.
Shannon served in municipal, colonial, and provincial elected office from the 3230s through the 3260s. In the 3262 General Election, she was selected to join the party parliamentary list and became a Member of Parliament. She held her position for thirteen years, leading the hawkish, republican faction of the National Humanists in Parliament and being known as the "Lioness of the Legislature". During her tenure, she advocated for greater cooperation between human-ruled interstellar states, increased military and social welfare spending, and tax reform favouring corporate expansion in outer colony regions. Her advocacy of human international unity was critical in gathering support for the wartime and postwar union of human states under a single government, and she became an active supporter of radical republicanism. Since becoming a Life Senator, she has continued her support of radical unitary policies.
She is considered one the most iconic spokespersons for National Humanism in government, and her family's wealth and influence has been noted as a significant contributor to the electoral success of the NHILP in the latter half of the 33rd century.
Early life and education
Childhood
Shannon Hazel McGrady was born February 2nd, 3210 to Lois Cypher-McGrady and Proinsias Petyr McGrady at the McGrady Estate on the space habitat Wallerstein. Her father, Proinsias, was CEO of the McGrady Financial Group, a large financial services and investment banking corporation based in Wallerstein. However, not long after Shannon was born, Proinsias lost control of the company. After a series of personal scandals, the board of directors lost confidence in his ability to manage the company and voted for his dismissal. The family floated for a few years on the family fortune, but Proinsias and his wife squandered much of their savings on frivolous purchases and the cost of maintaining the enormous McGrady estate. They were forced to sell many of their shares in the company to pay for their living expenses. Meanwhile, the company began to decline and the value of Proinsias' existing stock plummeted. The family was flung into financial poverty by the beginning of the 3220s, especially after Proinsias refused to sell the estate and after the birth of the McGrady's second child, Brigid Anne McGrady, in 3217.
In 3221, the Wallerstein Electric Company shut off electrical power to the McGrady residence, an event Shannon recalled vividly in an interview:
"I was reading to my little sister when suddenly everything went black. The colony had shifted to night-time so there wasn't even artificial or reflected sunlight. Just darkness. I was terrified. The next several years were awful...we had to burn books for heat and light candles at night."
She and her family also dealt with hunger and malnutrition while in poverty. With most of their stocks consisting of perishable food and luxury meals, very little remained that could be rationed. The rationing only lasted a few years, and in 3223 her sister died of starvation. Initially, the death was reported as due to illness. Shannon, in the same interview, recalled:
"That 'illness' thing? Cover story to save his ass. My sister starved to death. And after Brigid died, mother just broke down. She couldn't stand it, and she didn't know what to do."
With careful planning, the family survived on game and poultry that lived on the estate and cultivated herbs and vegetables. Government programs provided them with vital medicines and some food, to stave off scurvy and other vitamin deficiencies, but Proinsias stubbornly refused most assistance.
Later, in early 3225, her elder brother Paul William McGrady died in a violent incident after work in which a fellow student of Shannon's shot him to death. The assailant was captured and, despite being fifteen, was tried as an adult.
Education
The next several years saw Shannon attend public education, the first in her family to do so. She became the subject of mockery from previous childhood friends and from other members of her family. She was involved in a few altercations at school, but according to her instructors, "mellowed out" around her late teens. At age 16, she graduated early after having skipped two grades, and pursued higher education.
Riding on scholarships, Imperial educational assistance, and some money she saved up from odd jobs, Shannon McGrady began studies at the Rothschild School for Public Policy in the nearby space habitat of Rothstein in June 3226. She earned her Master's degree in Public Administration in April 3229. She took online coursework for the Imperial College of Law and earned her Juris Doctor degree, and was admitted to the bar in 3231.
Family and early career
Political prospects
Shannon, having completed her college education, endeavoured to return the McGrady Financial Group to the hands of the McGrady family. While searching for a method by which to do this, she focused on a political career. With her education in the law and public administration, Shannon was very knowledgeable about local and Imperial level political issues and joined the National Humanist Imperial Labor Party. She made connections with other local politicians and began assisting as a staff member of Wallerstein council chairman Seth Rothschild. During her early work, she met George Francis Rothschild, Seth's son, and established political connections in the Kolossen system through that family. With the encouragement of the Rothschilds, she decided to embark on a career in politics and run for the 3234 local elections.
Marriage and business career
Shannon met Patrick David Drake, heir to Drake Industries, at a fund-raising event for her future planned political campaign in November 3230. Patrick said of his first time meeting her, "I saw this slender, tall woman pale as slow, with tumbling raven hair, in this gorgeous emerald dress. She was--and is--the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." They began a whirlwind romance and became engaged on 30 February 3231. They were married on 4 January 3233, and took her illustrious surname as their future family name. A month later, however, the young couple was wracked with tragedy as Patrick's parents both died in a spacecraft accident. Patrick inherited his father's ownership of the company and became CEO of Drake Industries.
Shannon and Patrick utilized the immense wealth of the Drake family to purchase enormous personal stakes in the McGrady Financial Group due to the significantly lowered cost of shares. Drake Industries cooperated with a business plan drawn up by Patrick and Shannon to initiate a hostile takeover of the McGrady Financial Group if the MGFG management rejected all offers of negotiated merger, which they did. With the assistance of several allied shareholders, Drake Industries conducted their takeover through sheer majority vote at an emergency stockholder's meeting. The existing management was overthrown, Shannon was made CEO, and a formal merger was made.
Afterwards, the corporate structure of the new company was organized as a zaibatsu style conglomerate. The new business was renamed the McGrady Corporation, and Shannon resigned as head of the company. Her husband was elected President and CEO, and has run the company ever since. The corporation's subsidiaries are publicly-traded, but are controlled via a privately-owned holding company. Having secured her family's financial future, she detached herself from a career in business to focus on politics.
Over the next several years, Shannon and Patrick would bear nine children: John Patrick McGrady, William McGrady, Anne-Marie Brigid McGrady, Genevieve Patricia McGrady, Cynthia Shannon McGrady, Fiona Fachtna McGrady, Peadar Petyr McGrady, Hillary Alice McGrady, and Rory David McGrady.