Frank Aiken
Francis Thomas Aiken (13 February 1898 – 18 May 1983) was an Irish revolutionary and politician. He was chief of staff of the Anti-Treaty IRA at the end of the Irish Civil War. Aiken later served as Tánaiste from 1965 to 1969 and Minister for External Affairs from 1951 to 1954 and 1957 to 1969. Previously he had held the posts of Minister for Finance from 1945 to 1948, Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures 1939 to 1945, Minister for Defence from 1932 to 1939, and was also Minister for Lands and Fisheries from June–November 1936.
Frank Aiken | |
|---|---|
Aiken in 1944 | |
| Tánaiste | |
| In office 21 April 1965 – 2 July 1969 | |
| Taoiseach |
|
| Preceded by | Seán MacEntee |
| Succeeded by | Erskine H. Childers |
| Minister for External Affairs | |
| In office 20 March 1957 – 2 July 1969 | |
| Taoiseach |
|
| Preceded by | Liam Cosgrave |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Hillery |
| In office 13 June 1951 – 2 June 1954 | |
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Seán MacBride |
| Succeeded by | Liam Cosgrave |
| Minister for Finance | |
| In office 19 June 1945 – 18 February 1948 | |
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Seán T. O'Kelly |
| Succeeded by | Patrick McGilligan |
| Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures | |
| In office 8 September 1939 – 18 June 1945 | |
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 9 March 1932 – 8 September 1939 | |
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Desmond FitzGerald |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Traynor |
| Minister for Lands and Fisheries | |
| In office 3 June 1936 – 11 November 1936 | |
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Joseph Connolly |
| Succeeded by | Gerald Boland |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office August 1923 – February 1973 | |
| Constituency | Louth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Francis Thomas Aiken 13 February 1898 Camlough, County Armagh, Ireland |
| Died | 18 May 1983 (aged 85) Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | St Malachy's Church, Camlough, Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil (from 1926) |
| Other political affiliations | Sinn Féin (1923–26) |
| Spouse | Maud Aiken (1934–1978) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education |
|
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Years of service | 1914–1925 |
| Rank | General (chief of staff) |
| Battles/wars | |
He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency from 1923 to 1973, making him the second longest-serving member of Dáil Éireann and the longest-serving cabinet minister. Originally a member of Sinn Féin, he was later a founding member of Fianna Fáil.