de Valera, Eamon

de Valera, Eamon (1882–1975). The dominant figure in Irish politics for over 40 years despite his aloof, ascetic personality. De Valera was born in New York, reared in Co. Limerick, and was originally a mathematics teacher. He came to advanced nationalism through the Irish Language Movement. His rise to leadership was due to his being the last surviving commandant of the Easter Rising. Following release from internment in early 1917, he led a broad‐based Sinn Fein coalition. Arrested May 1918, de Valera escaped from Lincoln gaol in February 1919, and became president of the Dáil. After the truce in July 1921, de Valera became chief negotiator in Dáil ranks but controversially absented himself from the peace conference. Opposing the Anglo‐Irish treaty, he advanced external association as an alternative. Splitting from Sinn Fein and the IRA and their Dáil abstentionist policy, he formed Fianna Fail Party, entering the Dáil in 1927. After winning the 1932 election he followed a treaty reform policy, abolishing the oath of allegiance to the British crown. The constitution of 1937 epitomized his social and cultural conservatism. De Valera followed popular neutrality policy in the Second World War. Defeated in elections 1948 and 1954, but taoiseach> again 1951–4 and 1957–9, he withdrew to the presidency 1959–73. De Valera himself said: ‘I was meant to be a dyed‐in‐the‐wool Tory or even a Bishop, rather than the leader of a Revolution.’