Éamon de Valera - Former President of Ireland, Career and Life
Éamon de Valera's Personal Details
Eamon de Valera was an Irish politician and patriot, one of the leaders of Ireland's struggle for independence from the United Kingdom
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | October 14, 1882 |
| Died on | August 29, 1975 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Leaders, Political Leaders, Revolutionaries, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Former President of Ireland |
| Spouses | Sinéad de Valera |
| Known as | Eamon de Valera |
| Childrens | Vivion de Valera |
| Universities |
|
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | New York City |
| Political Ideology | Political party - Fianna Fáil (1926–59), Other political affiliations - Cumann na Poblachta (1922–23), Sinn Féin (1916–22, 1923–26) |
| Religion | Catholicism |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Juan Vivion de Valera |
| Mother | Catherine Coll |
| Sun Sign | Libra |
| Born in | New York City |
| Famous as | Former President of Ireland |
| Died at Age | 92 |
Éamon de Valera's photo
Who is Éamon de Valera?
Eamon de Valera was an Irish politician and patriot, one of the leaders of Ireland's struggle for independence from the United Kingdom. A major political figure in 20th century Ireland, de Valera had served multiple terms as the Taoiseach (prime minister), and the president of the nation at different points of time. He is also credited to have introduced the Constitution of Ireland. He was born in America to a Spanish father and an Irish mother, and endured a very difficult childhood after the death of his father. He was then sent to live in Ireland with his grandmother. He grew up to be an intelligent and athletic young man who also evolved into a passionate patriot. He embarked on a career as a teacher and became involved in Gaelic revival—national revival of interest in the Irish language. He also joined the Irish Volunteers and played a very significant role in the anti-British Easter Rising in Dublin. He was a member of the Sinn Féin party which was associated with extreme nationalist sentiment during the Easter Rising, and eventually became its president. Following Irish independence, he emerged as one of the most dominant figures in Irish politics.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born as Edward George de Valero on 14 October 1882 in New York City, United States to a Spanish father, Juan Vivion de Valera, and an Irish mother, Catherine Coll.
His father died when the boy was just two and he was sent to Ireland to live with his maternal relatives.
After completing his schooling he first went to the Blackrock College and then to the Rockwell College. He was an athletic young man who loved to play rugby.
Career
In 1903, Eamon de Valera was appointed a teacher of mathematics at Rockwell College, County Tipperary. He then furthered his education from the Royal University of Ireland and was appointed a teacher of mathematics at Carysfort Teachers' Training College for women in Blackrock in 1906.
He was a true patriot and became involved in the political revolution in 1913 when he joined the Irish Volunteers, an organization that supported Home Rule for Ireland.
In 1916, the anti-British Easter Rising in Dublin was in full-swing and de Valera led his forces to occupy Boland’s Mill. The forces were told to surrender after a week of fighting and de Valera was the last to surrender. He was also the only commandant of the rebellion, who was not executed, partly because of his American birth.
He joined the political party Sinn Féin in 1916 and was selected as its president in 1917 as several others of the rebellious leaders were dead. Sinn Féin won a huge majority in the 1918 general election following which de Valera went in disguise to the United States, where he collected funds to promote the cause of Irish Independence from the United Kingdom. De Valera was successful in collecting $5,500,000 from American supporters.
Meanwhile in Ireland, patriotic passions of the Irish revolutionaries reached a new height, igniting the Irish War of Independence. De Valera returned to Ireland shortly before the war ended with the truce that took effect on July 11, 1921.
The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in 1922 and the larger part of Ireland became independent from the United Kingdom to become the independent Irish Free State. However, it would take several more years before it would become a republic.
De Valera left Sinn Féin in 1926 and founded the party Fianna Fáil the same year. He became the head of government –President of the Executive Council—in 1932.
He wrote a new constitution in 1937 in which he included reforms and symbols intended to assert Irish sovereignty. The constitution also suggested a new name for the state, "Éire" (in Irish) and "Ireland" (in English).
With the adoption of the new constitution, Ireland became a republic and Douglas Hyde was inaugurated as the first President of Ireland on 26 June 1938, in the first inaugural ceremony in the nation's history.
De Valera was the President of the Executive Council at the time of enactment of the new constitution in 1937. Once Ireland became a republic, his office automatically became that of Taoiseach (Prime Minister), a position that carried considerably more power than the one he previously held.
He became the president quite late in life. He contested the presidential election in 1959 and won. He then resigned as the Taoiseach and was inaugurated President on 25 June 1959. He won the re-election in 1966 and retired in 1973 at the age of 90.
Major Works
Eamon de Valera is undoubtedly one of the major figures in the political history of Ireland. Over the course of his long political career which spanned over half a century, he played a vital role in the Irish War of Independence and decades later, in the establishment of Ireland as a republic.
Personal Life & Legacy
He met Sinéad Flanagan, a teacher, in 1908 and married her in 1910. The couple was blessed with five sons and two daughters.
Eamon de Valera died on 29 August 1975, at the age of 92.
Trivia
This former President of Ireland once held the world record for being the oldest elected head of state.
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Éamon de Valera biography timelines
- // 14th Oct 1882He was born as Edward George de Valero on 14 October 1882 in New York City, United States to a Spanish father, Juan Vivion de Valera, and an Irish mother, Catherine Coll.
- // 1903 To 1906In 1903, Eamon de Valera was appointed a teacher of mathematics at Rockwell College, County Tipperary. He then furthered his education from the Royal University of Ireland and was appointed a teacher of mathematics at Carysfort Teachers' Training College for women in Blackrock in 1906.
- // 1908 To 1910He met Sinéad Flanagan, a teacher, in 1908 and married her in 1910. The couple was blessed with five sons and two daughters.
- // 1913He was a true patriot and became involved in the political revolution in 1913 when he joined the Irish Volunteers, an organization that supported Home Rule for Ireland.
- // 1916In 1916, the anti-British Easter Rising in Dublin was in full-swing and de Valera led his forces to occupy Boland’s Mill. The forces were told to surrender after a week of fighting and de Valera was the last to surrender. He was also the only commandant of the rebellion, who was not executed, partly because of his American birth.
- // 1916 To 1918He joined the political party Sinn Féin in 1916 and was selected as its president in 1917 as several others of the rebellious leaders were dead. Sinn Féin won a huge majority in the 1918 general election following which de Valera went in disguise to the United States, where he collected funds to promote the cause of Irish Independence from the United Kingdom. De Valera was successful in collecting $5,500,000 from American supporters.
- // 11th Jul 1921Meanwhile in Ireland, patriotic passions of the Irish revolutionaries reached a new height, igniting the Irish War of Independence. De Valera returned to Ireland shortly before the war ended with the truce that took effect on July 11, 1921.
- // 1922The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in 1922 and the larger part of Ireland became independent from the United Kingdom to become the independent Irish Free State. However, it would take several more years before it would become a republic.
- // 1926 To 1932De Valera left Sinn Féin in 1926 and founded the party Fianna Fáil the same year. He became the head of government –President of the Executive Council—in 1932.
- // 1937He wrote a new constitution in 1937 in which he included reforms and symbols intended to assert Irish sovereignty. The constitution also suggested a new name for the state, "Éire" (in Irish) and "Ireland" (in English).
- // 1937De Valera was the President of the Executive Council at the time of enactment of the new constitution in 1937. Once Ireland became a republic, his office automatically became that of Taoiseach (Prime Minister), a position that carried considerably more power than the one he previously held.
- // 26th Jun 1938With the adoption of the new constitution, Ireland became a republic and Douglas Hyde was inaugurated as the first President of Ireland on 26 June 1938, in the first inaugural ceremony in the nation's history.
- // 1959 To 1973He became the president quite late in life. He contested the presidential election in 1959 and won. He then resigned as the Taoiseach and was inaugurated President on 25 June 1959. He won the re-election in 1966 and retired in 1973 at the age of 90.
- // 29th Aug 1975Eamon de Valera died on 29 August 1975, at the age of 92.
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Éamon de Valera's FAQ
What is Éamon de Valera birthday?
Éamon de Valera was born at 1882-10-14
When was Éamon de Valera died?
Éamon de Valera was died at 1975-08-29
Where was Éamon de Valera died?
Éamon de Valera was died in Dublin
Which age was Éamon de Valera died?
Éamon de Valera was died at age 92
Where is Éamon de Valera's birth place?
Éamon de Valera was born in New York City
What is Éamon de Valera nationalities?
Éamon de Valera's nationalities is American
Who is Éamon de Valera spouses?
Éamon de Valera's spouses is Sinéad de Valera
Who is Éamon de Valera childrens?
Éamon de Valera's childrens is Vivion de Valera
What was Éamon de Valera universities?
Éamon de Valera studied at 1904 - University of Dublin, Royal University of Ireland, Blackrock College
Which company or organization was founded by Éamon de Valera?
Éamon de Valera was the founder/co-founder of Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Fianna Fáil, Cumann na Poblachta
What is Éamon de Valera's political ideology?
Éamon de Valera's political ideology is Political party - Fianna Fáil (1926–59), Other political affiliations - Cumann na Poblachta (1922–23), Sinn Féin (1916–22, 1923–26)
What is Éamon de Valera's religion?
Éamon de Valera's religion is Catholicism
Who is Éamon de Valera's father?
Éamon de Valera's father is Juan Vivion de Valera
Who is Éamon de Valera's mother?
Éamon de Valera's mother is Catherine Coll
What is Éamon de Valera's sun sign?
Éamon de Valera is Libra
How famous is Éamon de Valera?
Éamon de Valera is famouse as Former President of Ireland