The late Ulster Premier had been working "at high pressure" and had attended the meeting of the Ulster Parliament of the previous Tuesday but his death had come quickly after a heart attack. His wife, Viscountess Craigavon, was with him at the last.
Tributes to the late Lord Craigavon by the new Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr J M Andrews, who had served as Craigavon's Minister of Labour (1921-1937) and Minister of Finance (1937 to 1940).

He said: "Amid the stress of a great personal sorrow I have been asked to pay a tribute to the memory of a great Ulsterman and Imperial statesman. The tragically sudden death of Lord Craigavon has come as a great shock to all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him. Ulster has lost a most distinguished leader and Prime Minister, under whose generalship I have been proud to serve for almost, 20 years."

The new Ulster PM continued: "His human sympathy, great wisdom, sound judgment, steadfastness and wonderful courage in times of difficulty and danger have been an inspiration to all his colleagues. He loved Ulster. He worked for her well-being from his youth, and he has died, as I am sure, he would have wished, still in her service."

Commenting in his tribute to Craigavon's achievement, Mr Andrews remarked: "It was mainly Lord Carson who laid the foundations of the Ulster state; it was Lord Craigavon who erected the structure and made it impregnable. During his long premiership Ulster has progressed more rapidly than at any other stage in her history. Law and order have been maintained, our financial position secured; the standard of living has been raised; our social services have been expanded as in Great Britain; industry and agriculture assisted as never before, and educational facilities improved to a remarkable degree."

Turning his focus to Lord Craigavon's abilities as a war leader Andrews added: "Since the outbreak of war Lord Craigavon's qualities as a statesman have shone forth with special brightness. Rising above all thoughts of party, class or creed, he devoted all his energy to the accomplishment of one supreme task – Ulster's wholehearted co-operation in the Empire's struggle against ruthless foes. He spent himself to the uttermost in this endeavour; would that he had been spared to see the coming triumph of our cause."

Concluding his tribute to Craigavon Mr Andrews remarked: "Mere words can do but faint justice to the greatness of Lord Craigavon's character and achievements. But his work for Ulster will be his enduring memorial – a monument to a great patriot, far-seeing statesman and a staunch friend. In the hearts of the people to whose service his life was dedicated his name will be forever enshrined."

From Buckingham Palace a telegram was sent to the Governor of Northern Ireland, Lord Abercorn, expressing the King and Queen's sadness at the death of Lord Craigavon.

It read: "It is with profound regret that I have received the news of the death of Lord Craigavon. The loss of a Prime Minister who had rendered such loyal and devoted service will be deeply felt by the Government and people of Northern Ireland, to whom I extend my sincere sympathy."

It was also reported that the King had also sent a message to Lady Craigavon which had read: "The Queen and I offer you our heartfelt sympathy in your irreparable loss." It was signed George RI.

Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, shortly after the death of his 'old, tried and valiant friend Craigavon, had also despatched from London a telegram to the Governor of Northern Ireland.

The telegram read: "I have received with the deepest sorrow the news of the death of our old, tried and valiant friend Craigavon. His unswerving singleness of purpose was the mainstay during many difficult years of the life and integrity of Northern Ireland."

The telegram from Churchill continued: "He reaped his reward in the splendid and vital contribution which Ulster is making to the British Commonwealth of Nations and the cause of freedom at this turning point in world history."

Concluding his telegram to the Governor of Northern Churchill declared: "He was the first to hold out the hand of comradeship to the south in the troubled times which followed the last war. This, also, will bear its fruits in God's good time."

In the House of Lords on November 27, Lord Halifax, the former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Secretary of State for, and then the leader of the upper house also paid tribute to Lord Craigavon.

He remarked: "For nearly 20 years Lord Craigavon had borne the burden attaching to the office of Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Many of this House were his colleagues in the House of Commons in the stormy days before the last war, and when in 1921 the Government of Northern Ireland was formed it was natural that on the shoulders of Sir James Craig (as he then was) should fall the duty of being (the] first Prime Minister."

Lord Halifax continued: "His health, as many us knew had not been good for some time past, but in spite of this he gave himself without stint to the public service. As was common with all statesmen who had to do Irish affairs, Lord Craigavon was seldom outside the field of political controversies. No one doubted his ability or rigid determination to pursue what he thought right. Nor could anyone challenge his sincerity and personal integrity."