Eamon de Valera Biography

Birth of Eamon de Valera

Appointed Commandant in the Irish Volunteers

Spared the death penalty because of his US citizenship & receives a life sentence. Arrested for treason, 1916-1917

Surviving leaders of the Rising under Eamon de Valera took over the party. De Valera replaced Griffith as president

Arrested for treason, 1916-1917

The Irish Free State, southern Ireland, is established

The Irish Free State, southern Ireland, is established

24-29 April, leads 125 men & captures the Boland mill during the Easter Rebelion

Spare execution, because of his American citizenship & released after nearly 2 years

Spare execution, because of his American citizenship & released after nearly 2 years

Appointed President of Sinn Fein

Nearly splits between monarchist and republican wings at its Ard Fheis (conference) until, in a compromise motion, it proposes the establishment of an independent republic, after which people could decide whether they wanted a monarchy or republic

Elected Member of Parliament for East Clare

Sinn Fein wins 73 of Irelands 105 seats in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Parliament at the general election and many of the seats it won were uncontested

Sinn Fein win 73 seats but refuse to sit at Westminster

Appointed President of the Provisional Republican Government

Sinn Fein wins 73 of Irelands 105 seats in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Parliament at the general election and many of the seats it won were uncontested

Irish Volunteers shoot 2 policemen dead & civil war erupts

Sinn Fein elect an Aireacht (ministry) headed by a Priomh Aire (Prime Minister). 30 of the Sinn Fein MPs assembled in Dublins Mansion House and proclaim themselves the Parliament of Ireland, Dail Eireann

37 Sinn Fein MPs establish the Dail Eirean, Irish Parliament

The Irish Republic is proclaimed

30 of the Sinn Fein MPs assembled in Dublins Mansion House and proclaim themselves the Parliament of Ireland, Dail Eireann

Sinn Fein elect an Aireacht (ministry) headed by a Priomh Aire (Prime Minister)

30 of the Sinn Fein MPs assembled in Dublins Mansion House and proclaim themselves the Parliament of Ireland, Dail Eireann

Michael Collins organises de Valeras escape from Lincoln Gaol

2nd session of the Dail, Valera elected Priomh-Aire

Is elected President of Dail Eireann and forms the second ministry of the First Dail.

Refuses to sit in the British Parliament

Joins Nationalists in forming the Irish Assembly, the Dail Eireann

Helps found the Dail Eireann, Irish Assembley. Appointed Leader of the Dail Eireann, Irish Assembley

In the local elections Sinn Fein win control of all the county councils except Antrim, Down, Londonderry and Armagh. In the 1920 city council elections, Sinn Fein gain control of ten of the twelve city councils in Ireland, only Belfast and Derry remain under Unionist and IPP (respectively) control

Appointed Leader of the Dail Eireann, Irish Assembley

Meets British Prime Minister David Lloyd George during exploratory talks preceding the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations.

Accepts the truce that ends major hostilities in the War of Independence and opens the way to negotiations.

The Priomh Aire (also known as President of Dail Eireann) is upgraded to President of the Republic, a full head of state

The Priomh Aire (also known as President of Dail Eireann) is upgraded to President of the Republic, a full head of state

The Priomh Aire (also known as President of Dail Eireann) is upgraded to President of the Republic, a full head of state

De Valera rejects Dominion status for Ireland

The Irish Dail rejects the British peace offer

The Treaty is controversial, Eamon de Valera, President of the Irish Republic is unhappy that Collins had signed any deal without his and his cabinets authorisation

Opposes the Anglo-Irish Treaty after the Irish delegation returns from London with the signed agreement.

Negotiations ultimately result in the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed on 6 December 1921, which provides for a new Irish State, named the "Irish Free State"

Republican purists regard it as a sell-out, with the replacement of the republic by dominion status within the British Empire, and an Oath of Allegiance made (it was then claimed) directly to the King.

The Treaty provides for a possible all state, subject to the right of a six-county region in the northeast to opt out of the Free State (which it immediately does).

The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann.

The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann. Negotiations ultimately result in the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed on 6 December 1921, which provides for a new Irish State, named the "Irish Free State"

The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann

The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann

This record states: Negotiations ultimately result in the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed on 6 December 1921, which provides for a new Irish State, named the "Irish Free State."

This record states: The Treaty provides for a possible all state, subject to the right of a six-county region in the northeast to opt out of the Free State (which it immediately does).

This record states: The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann.

The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann. Negotiations ultimately result in the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed on 6 December 1921, which provides for a new Irish State, named the "Irish Free State"

The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann

The new Irish Free State is to be a Dominion, with a bicameral Parliament, executive authority vested in the king but exercised by an Irish Government elected by a lower house called Dail Eireann

de Valera nominates a team of delegates headed by Arthur Griffith, with Michael Collins as his deputy, Collins agreed to go to London. Britain signs a peace Treaty with Ireland

De Valera joins the anti-treaty faction opposing the perceived concessions

Sinn Fein splits over the Treaty, and the Dail debates the matter bitterly for ten days until it is approved by a vote of 64 to 57

Resigns after the Dail ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty and rejects his position on the settlement.

Arrested by the Irish Free State, 1923-1924

Arrested by the Irish Free State, 1923-1924

Founds the Fianna Fail Party

Founds Fianna Feil with fellow advocates of participation in constitutional politics

Founds Fianna Feil with fellow advocates of participation in constitutional politics

Founds Fianna Feil with fellow advocates of participation in constitutional politics

Founds Fianna Feil with fellow advocates of participation in constitutional politics

Having temporarily suspended armed action in the Free State, Sinn Fein splits with the departure of its leader Eamon de Valera, after having lost a motion to abandon abstention if the statement of "Fidelity to the King" were abolished

Having temporarily suspended armed action in the Free State, Sinn Fein splits with the departure of its leader Eamon de Valera, after having lost a motion to abandon abstention if the statement of "Fidelity to the King" were abolished. Founds Fianna Feil with fellow advocates of participation in constitutional politics

Resigns as head of Sinn Feinn

Leads the Fianna Fail into the Free State Parliament

Leads the Fianna Fail into the Free State Parliament

The Irish demand independence

The Irish demand independence at the London Conference

Begins withholding land annuity payments, contributing to a prolonged trade dispute with Britain.

The election returns de Valeras party

Appointed Foreign Secretary

Takes office as President of the Executive Council after Fianna Fail's election victory.

The election increases de Valeras support

Leads the government as legislation removes the oath of allegiance from Free State constitutional arrangements.

The Dail abolishes loyalty to the British crown

Uses the British abdication crisis to reduce the Crown's constitutional role in Irish external relations.

Appointed Prime Minister of Ireland, 1st term

Secures voter approval for Bunreacht na hEireann in a national referendum.

Becomes Taoiseach when the 1937 Constitution enters into operation and replaces the Executive Council system.

Assumes the new constitutional title Taoiseach as the Government of Ireland replaces the former Executive Council.

Concludes agreements with Britain resolving the economic dispute and providing for the return of the Treaty Ports.

Maintains a policy of military neutrality throughout the Second World War.

Leads the government when the Constitution is amended to broaden emergency powers during wartime.

Leads the government as Ireland declares a national emergency at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Appointed Prime Minister of Ireland, 2nd term

Appointed Prime Minister of Ireland, 3rd term

Returns to office for his final term as Taoiseach.

Appointed President of Ireland, 1st term

Appointed President of Ireland, 2nd term

Resigns as President of Ireland, aged 90

Death of Eamon de Valera