Eamon de Valera

Date of Birth: October 14, 1882

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: August 29, 1975

Biography

Eamon de Valera was a prominent Irish political leader and statesman who played a significant role in the country’s struggle for independence from British rule. Born in New York City on October 14, 1882, to an Irish mother and a Spanish father, he was sent to live with his maternal family in County Limerick, Ireland, following his father’s death. De Valera’s political career began as a member of the Irish Volunteers, and he later became a key figure in the 1916 Easter Rising, for which he was sentenced to death, though this was later commuted to life imprisonment. De Valera was instrumental in the formation of the Irish Free State, although he was an opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. He founded the political party Fianna Fáil in 1926 and served multiple terms as President of the Executive Council (Prime Minister) and President of Ireland. His tenure in Irish politics spanned several decades, during which he worked to establish Ireland as a republic and maintain its neutrality during World War II. Eamon de Valera passed away on August 29, 1975.

5 Interesting Facts about Eamon de Valera

1. Eamon de Valera was one of the few leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising whose death sentence was commuted.

2. He founded the Irish political party Fianna Fáil in 1926, which remains one of the major political parties in Ireland.

3. De Valera served as the President of Ireland for two terms from 1959 to 1973.

4. He was instrumental in drafting the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, which replaced the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State.

5. Despite his American birth, de Valera chose to align his political career closely with Ireland and its quest for independence.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Eamon de Valera

1. “The freedom of a people consists in being masters of their own destiny.”

2. “We cannot afford idleness, waste or inefficiency.”

3. “It is my considered opinion that in the fullness of time history will record the greatness of Michael Collins and it will be recorded at my expense.”

4. “From the moment this Treaty is ratified, the Irish people cease to be rebels.”

5. “If war comes upon us, it will come because our independence is threatened.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Eamon de Valera was a public servant and statesman who did not accumulate significant personal wealth. His highest net worth is not well-documented, but it is generally agreed that he led a modest lifestyle consistent with his public roles.

Children

Eamon de Valera and his wife, Sinéad de Valera, had five sons and two daughters: 1. Vivion de Valera 2. Éamon de Valera Jr. 3. Brian de Valera 4. Ruairí de Valera 5. Terence de Valera 6. Máirín de Valera 7. Emer de Valera