Éamon de Valera
The figure who dominated Irish politics for half a century and led the drafting of the 1937 constitution.
Life
Born in New York
De Valera was born in New York to a father of Spanish descent, and as a small child was sent back to Ireland to be raised by his maternal grandmother. A mathematics teacher, he was a commander in the Easter Rising of 1916 and escaped execution, partly because he had been born in the United States.
Opposed the Treaty
In 1917 he became President of Sinn Féin, and during the War of Independence he was President of the Irish Republic. He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and sided with the anti-Treaty camp in the civil war. In 1926 he founded Fianna Fáil and took power in 1932, gradually abolishing the oath of allegiance, waging an "economic war" with Britain, and in 1937 leading the drafting of a new constitution.
Constitution and neutrality
He held to neutrality in World War II, later served several more times as prime minister, was president from 1959 to 1973, and died in 1975 at the age of ninety-two.
Legacy
De Valera shaped the politics, constitution, and Catholic, conservative social character of independent Ireland, and opinions of him remain divided to this day.
Major works & achievements
- 1937 Constitution of Ireland
Did you know? He was over ninety while serving as president, making him the oldest head of state in the world at the time.
Key dates
- 1916Commander in the Easter Rising
- 1917President of Sinn Féin
- 1922Sides with the anti-Treaty camp
- 1926Founds Fianna Fáil
- 1932Takes power
- 1937Introduces a new constitution
- 1959Elected President
- 1975Died