Patrick McGilligan
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Patrick McGilligan (April 12, 1889 – November 15, 1979) was an Irish lawyer and Cumann na nGaedhael/Fine Gael politician.
McGilligan was born on April 12, 1889 in Coleraine, County Londonderry. He was educated in Derry, at Clongowes Wood in Dublin and at University College Dublin.
He joined Sinn Féin but was unsuccessful in his attempt to be elected as a MP in 1918. McGilligan was called to the bar in 1921.
At the 1923 general election he was elected as a Cumann na nGaedhael TD. Between 1924 and 1932 McGilligan served as Minister for Industry & Commerce. In 1927 he set up the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), and also the Agricultural Credit Corporation. That same year McGilligan also took over the External Affairs portfolio following the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins by the anti-Treaty elements of the IRA as revenge for O'Higgins' support for the execution of Republican prisoners during the Irish Civil War (1922-23). In this position he was hugely influential at the Committee on the Operation of Dominion Legislation and at the Imperial Conference in 1930 (jointly with representatives of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom). The Statute of Westminster that emerged from these meetings gave greater power to dominions in the Commonwealth like the Irish Free State.
During his period in opposition from 1932 to 1948 he built up a law practice and became professor of constitutional and international law at University College, Dublin. In 1948 McGilligan was appointed Minister for Finance in the first Inter-Party Government. Between 1954 and 1957 he served as Attorney-General. He retired from Dáil Éireann at the 1965 general election, having served for over 40 years.
Patrick McGilligan died in Dublin on 15 November 1979.
[edit] Political career
| Preceded by: Joseph McGrath |
Minister for Industry & Commerce 1924–1932 |
Succeeded by: Seán F. Lemass |
| Preceded by: Kevin O'Higgins |
Minister for External Affairs 1927–1932 |
Succeeded by: Eamon de Valera |
| Preceded by: Frank Aiken |
Minister for Finance 1948–1951 |
Succeeded by: Seán F. Lemass |
| Preceded by: Aindrias Ó Caoimh |
Attorney-General of Ireland 1954–1957 |
Succeeded by: Aindrias Ó Caoimh |
[edit] External links
- [ Patrick McGilligan's electoral history] (ElectionsIreland.org)
This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database
Categories: 1889 births | 1979 deaths | Irish Cumann na nGaedhael Party politicians | Irish Fine Gael Party politicians | Irish Ministers for Finance | Irish Ministers for Foreign Affairs | Former Teachtaí Dála | Members of the 4th Dáil | Members of the 5th Dáil | Members of the 6th Dáil | Members of the 7th Dáil | Members of the 8th Dáil | Members of the 9th Dáil | Members of the 10th Dáil | Members of the 11th Dáil | Members of the 12th Dáil | Members of the 13th Dáil | Members of the 14th Dáil | Members of the 15th Dáil | Members of the 16th Dáil | Members of the 17th Dáil | Natives of County Londonderry
