W. T. Cosgrave

Irish politician (1880-1965)

William Thomas Cosgrave (6 June 1880 – 16 November 1965) was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was President of the Executive Council from 1922 to 1932 and Leader of the Opposition from 1932 to 1944.

W. T. Cosgrave
President of the Executive Council
In office
6 December 1922 – 9 March 1932
Vice PresidentKevin O'Higgins
Ernest Blythe
Preceded byHimself
as Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State
Succeeded byÉamon de Valera
Leader of the Opposition
In office
9 March 1932 – 11 January 1944
PresidentDouglas Hyde
TaoiseachÉamon de Valera
Preceded byÉamon de Valera
Succeeded byRichard Mulcahy
Leader of Fine Gael
In office
20 June 1934 – 30 May 1944
Preceded byEoin O'Duffy
Succeeded byRichard Mulcahy
Leader of Cumann na nGaedheal
In office
20 April 1923 – 15 May 1933
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Chairman of the Provisional Government
In office
22 August 1922 – 6 December 1922
Preceded byMichael Collins
Succeeded byOffice abolished
President of Dáil Éireann
In office
9 September 1922 – 6 December 1922
Preceded byArthur Griffith
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Minister for Finance
In office
17 July 1922 – 21 September 1923
PresidentMichael Collins
Preceded byMichael Collins
Succeeded byErnest Blythe
Minister for Local Government
In office
2 April 1919 – 22 August 1922
PresidentMichael Collins
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byErnest Blythe
Teachta Dála
In office
September 1927 – May 1944
ConstituencyCork Borough
In office
May 1921 – September 1927
ConstituencyCarlow–Kilkenny
Member of Parliament
for North Kilkenny
In office
14 December 1918 – 26 October 1922
Preceded byMichael Meagher
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born
William Thomas Cosgrave

(1880-06-06)6 June 1880
Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland
Died16 November 1965(1965-11-16) (aged 85)
The Liberties, Dublin, Ireland
Resting placeGoldenbridge Cemetery, Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Other political
affiliations
Sinn Féin (1905–22)
Cumann na nGaedheal (1923–33)
Spouse(s)Louisa Flanagan
(m. 1919; d. 1959)
Relations
Children2, including Liam
Parents
  • Thomas Cosgrave
  • Bridget Nixon
EducationSt. Joseph's School, Marino
Military service
Allegiance Ireland
Years of service1913–16
RankCaptain
Battles/warsEaster Rising

Cosgrave was Leader of Fine Gael from 1934 to 1944, Leader of Cumann na nGaedheal from 1923 to 1933, Chairman of the Provisional Government from August 1922 to December 1922, President of Dáil Éireann from September 1922 to December 1922, Minister for Finance from 1922 to 1923 and Minister for Local Government from 1919 to 1922.

He was a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1921 to 1944.

He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Kilkenny constituency from 1918 to 1922.[1]

Cosgrave never officially held the office of Taoiseach.

References change

  1. "William T. Cosgrave". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 1 June 2009.