Cosgrave, William Thomas

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Cosgrave, William Thomas (1880–1965) Irish statesman, first president (1922–32) of the Irish Free State. A member of Sinn Féin, he took part in the Easter Rising (1916). Cosgrave served in the provisional government of the Dáil Éireann in 1919. Eamon De Valera defeated him in 1932 elections, and Cosgrave became leader (1932–44) of the Fine Gael opposition. His son, Liam Cosgrave (1920– ), served as taoiseach (1973–77) of the Republic of Ireland.

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William Thomas Cosgrave

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