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''For the Apollo XI astronaut, see [[Michael Collins (Astronaut)]]''

''For the Apollo XI astronaut, see [[Michael Collins (Astronaut)]]''

'''Michael Collins''' (1890-1922) was an Irish revolutionary leader, and the main commander of the [[Irish Republican Army]] during the [[Irish War of Independence]] (1919-1921) and of the [[Irish Free State]] Army during the [[Irish Civil War]] (1921-1923).

'''Michael Collins''' (1890-August 22, 1922) was an Irish nationalist leader, and the main commander of the [[Irish Republican Army]] during the [[Irish War of Independence]] (1919-1921) and of the [[Irish Free State]] Army during the [[Irish Civil War]] (1921-1923). He was one of the great masters of guerilla warfare.[[Image:COLLINS-M.JPG|thumb|250px]]  He was a founder of modern Ireland and a hero to more conservative elements.

Collins was born into a republican family in west [[Cork]], in the south-west of [[Ireland]]; on leaving school he moved to [[London]] where he passed the examinations for the [[British]] civil service and in 1906 joined the Post Office. While in London he joined the local branch of the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]], a sporting organisation closely associated with Irish republican politics, and through his GAA links was inducted into the [[Irish Republican Brotherhood]] (IRB), a republican secret society. He returned to [[Dublin]] in time to participate in the calamitous [[Easter Rising]] of 1916; his experience of the failure of that romantic gesture was to affect his leadership of the IRA during the War of Independence, characterised by ruthlessness and professionalism.

Collins was born into a middle-class family in [[County Cork]], in the south-west of Ireland; on leaving school he moved to London where he passed the examinations for the British civil service and in 1906 joined the Post Office. While in London he joined the local branch of the Gaelic Athletic Association, a sporting organisation closely associated with Irish republican politics, and through his GAA links was inducted into the [[Irish Republican Brotherhood]] (IRB), a republican secret society. He returned to [[Dublin]] in time to participate in the calamitous [[Easter Rising]] of 1916; his experience of the failure of that romantic gesture was to affect his leadership of the IRA during the War of Independence, characterised by ruthlessness and professionalism.

Collins was not the nominal head of the IRA: its Chief of Staff was Richard Mulcahy and the Minister of Defence in the underground [[Dail Eireann]] (republican Irish Parliament) was Cathal Brugha. However, he was able to dominate the movement through his forceful personality, his leadership of the IRB and his role as head of intelligence in the IRA.

Collins was not the nominal head of the IRA: its Chief of Staff was Richard Mulcahy and the Minister of Defence in the underground [[Dail Eireann]] (republican Irish Parliament) was Cathal Brugha. However, Collins was able to dominate the movement through his forceful personality, his leadership of the IRB and the massive intelligence network which was at his command.

Collins supported the December 1921 treaty with [[Great Britain]] that saw the creation of the Irish Free State and led the newly-constituted Free State Army against dissident members of the IRA (which was supported by [[Eamon de Valera]]). While visiting Free State forces in Cork in July-August 1922 (and allegedly seeking a truce with the Anti-Treaty IRA), the column in which Collins was travelling was caught in an ambush on 22 August, and he was shot dead in the crossfire.

In 1921, Collins negotiated and signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty with Britain that saw the creation of the independent [[Irish Free State]], but without the six counties of Ulster that became [[Northern Ireland]]. [[Eamon de Valera]] rejected the results of democratic elections, broke with Collins, and launched the [[Irish Civil War]] against the new nation. Collins led the newly constituted Irish Army to a decisive victory against the rebels. He column was ambushed on 22 August, and he was shot dead in the crossfire.

[[Category:Ireland]]

[[Category:Irish History]]