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[[Image:Eamon de Valera.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Eamon de Valera.jpg|right]]

'''Éamon de Valera''' (New York, October 14, 1882 - Dublin, August 29, 1975) was an Irish politician, Prime Minister ("Taoiseach") of [[History of Ireland|Ireland]] from 1932 until 1948 and again from 1951 to 1954 and from 1957 to 1959.  He was the ceremonial President from 1959-1973. De Valera was an important figure in the [[Easter Rising]] and the Irish War for Independence from Britain. After his release from prison in 1917, de Valera was elected president of Sinn Fein and in 1919 he became president of Dail Eireann, the revolutionary assembly.  His refusal to take part in the 1921 negotiations with Britain left the leadership to Arthur Griffith and [[Michael Collins]], who obtained independence with a minor acknowledgement of ties to the British Commonswealth.  Worse, the six protestant provinces remained part of Britain. That was too much of a concession for de Valera and his antitreaty forces; they were defeated in the legislature and in elections, but waged a civil war against the new government of Ireland.  The rebels were defeated in the ensuing civil war, but Collins was killed too.

'''Éamon de Valera''' (New York, October 14, 1882 - Dublin, August 29, 1975) was an Irish politician, Prime Minister ("[[Taoiseach]]") of [[History of Ireland|Ireland]] from 1932 until 1948 and again from 1951 to 1954 and from 1957 to 1959.  He was the ceremonial President from 1959-1973. De Valera was an important figure in the [[Easter Rising]] and the Irish War for Independence from Britain. After his release from prison in 1917, de Valera was elected president of Sinn Fein and in 1919 he became president of Dail Eireann, the revolutionary assembly.  His refusal to take part in the 1921 negotiations with Britain left the leadership to Arthur Griffith and [[Michael Collins]], who obtained independence with a minor acknowledgement of ties to the British Commonswealth.  Worse, the six protestant provinces remained part of Britain. That was too much of a concession for de Valera and his antitreaty forces; they were defeated in the legislature and in elections, but waged a civil war against the new government of Ireland.  The rebels were defeated in the ensuing civil war, but Collins was killed too.

A revolutionary who narrowly escaped execution by the British in 1917, he was a leading figure in the struggle for Irish independence. Although he repudiated the treaty that established the independent Irish Free State in 1922, de Valera relented in 1927. He was prime minister from 1932 until 1948 and again from 1951 to 1954 and from 1957 to 1959.  He refused to allow Ireland to help in any way Britain or the United States against Germany in World War II.

A revolutionary who narrowly escaped execution by the British in 1917, he was a leading figure in the struggle for Irish independence. Although he repudiated the treaty that established the independent Irish Free State in 1922, de Valera relented in 1927. He was prime minister from 1932 until 1948 and again from 1951 to 1954 and from 1957 to 1959.  He refused to allow Ireland to help in any way Britain or the United States against Germany in World War II.