W. T. Cosgrave | |
---|---|
![]() Cosgrave, circa 1930s | |
1st President of the Executive Council | |
In office 6 December 1922 – 9 March 1932 | |
Governors‑General | |
Vice President | Kevin O'Higgins Ernest Blythe |
Preceded by | Michael Collins (as Chairman of the Provisional Government) |
Succeeded by | Éamon de Valera |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 9 March 1932 – 11 January 1944 | |
President | Douglas Hyde |
Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
Preceded by | Éamon de Valera |
Succeeded by | Richard Mulcahy |
Leader of Fine Gael | |
In office 20 June 1934 – 30 May 1944 | |
Preceded by | Eoin O'Duffy |
Succeeded by | Richard Mulcahy |
Leader of Cumann na nGaedheal | |
In office 20 April 1923 – 15 May 1933 | |
Preceded by | New office |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Chairman of the Provisional Government | |
In office 22 August 1922 – 6 December 1922 | |
Preceded by | Michael Collins |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
President of Dáil Éireann | |
In office 9 September 1922 – 6 December 1922 | |
Preceded by | Arthur Griffith |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Minister for Finance | |
In office 17 July 1922 – 21 September 1923 | |
President | Michael Collins |
Preceded by | Michael Collins |
Succeeded by | Ernest Blythe |
Minister for Local Government | |
In office 2 April 1919 – 22 August 1922 | |
President | Michael Collins |
Preceded by | New office |
Succeeded by | Ernest Blythe |
Teachta Dála | |
In office September 1927 – May 1944 | |
Constituency | Cork Borough |
In office May 1921 – September 1927 | |
Constituency | Carlow–Kilkenny |
In office December 1918 – May 1921 | |
Constituency | Kilkenny North |
Member of Parliament | |
In office August 1917 – December 1918 | |
Constituency | Kilkenny City |
Personal details | |
Born | William Thomas Cosgrave 5 June 1880 The Liberties, Dublin, Ireland |
Died | 16 November 1965 The Liberties, Dublin, Ireland | (aged 85)
Resting place | Goldenbridge Cemetery, Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland |
Political party | Fine Gael |
Other political affiliations |
|
Spouse |
Louisa Flanagan
(m. 1919; died 1959) |
Relations |
|
Children | 2, including Liam |
Education | St. Joseph's School, Marino |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Irish Republic |
Years of service | 1913–16 |
Rank | Captain |
Battles/wars | Easter Rising |
William Thomas Cosgrave (5 June 1880 – 16 November 1965) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as the president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932, leader of the Opposition in both the Free State and Ireland from 1932 to 1944, leader of Fine Gael from 1934 to 1944, founder and leader of Fine Gael's predecessor, Cumann na nGaedheal, from 1923 to 1933, chairman of the Provisional Government from August 1922 to December 1922, the president of Dáil Éireann from September 1922 to December 1922, the minister for Finance from 1922 to 1923 and minister for Local Government from 1919 to 1922. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1921 to 1944. He was a member of parliament (MP) for the Kilkenny North constituency from 1918 to 1922.[1]
While Cosgrave never officially held the office of Taoiseach (the current title of Ireland's prime minister, created in 1937), Ireland considers him to be its first Taoiseach due to having been the Free State's first head of government. His son, Liam, served as Taoiseach from 1973 to 1977.