Thomas F. O'Higgins
Thomas Francis O'Higgins (8 April 1890 – 1 November 1953) was an Irish Fine Gael politician and medical practitioner who served as Minister for Defence from 1948 to 1951, Minister for Industry and Commerce from March 1951 to June 1951 and Leader of the Opposition from January 1944 to June 1944. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1929 to 1932 and 1937 to 1953.[1]
Thomas F. O'Higgins | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 18 February 1948 – 7 March 1951 | |
| Taoiseach | John A. Costello |
| Preceded by | Oscar Traynor |
| Succeeded by | Seán Mac Eoin |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | |
| In office 7 March 1951 – 13 June 1951 | |
| Taoiseach | John A. Costello |
| Preceded by | Daniel Morrissey |
| Succeeded by | Seán Lemass |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 11 January 1944 – 9 June 1944 | |
| President | Douglas Hyde |
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | W. T. Cosgrave |
| Succeeded by | Richard Mulcahy |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 1948 – 1 November 1953 | |
| Constituency | Cork Borough |
| In office July 1937 – February 1948 | |
| Constituency | Laois-Offaly |
| In office March 1929 – February 1932 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Francis O'Higgins 8 April 1890 Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland |
| Died | 1 November 1953 (aged 63) Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse(s) | Jane O'Higgins (m. 1918; d. 1953) |
| Relations |
|
| Children | |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
He grew up in Stradbally, County Laois, one of sixteen children of Dr. Thomas Higgins and Anne Sullivan. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Dublin North at the 14 March 1929 by-election. At the 1932 general election he was elected for the Leix–Offaly constituency.[2] From the 1948 general election, he represented Cork Borough.[2]
He was the founder of the Army Comrades Association, commonly referred to as the Blueshirts. He became parliamentary leader of Fine Gael in 1944, while the former leader, Richard Mulcahy, was attempting to get elected to Seanad Éireann and retain his position.
In 1948, he joined the Cabinet of John A. Costello as Minister for Defence. He served as Minister for Industry and Commerce from March 1951 to June 1951. His sons Tom O'Higgins and Michael O'Higgins were also members of the Dáil, the former serving in government (and twice a candidate for President of Ireland) and as Chief Justice of Ireland from 1974-85. He was a brother of Kevin O'Higgins, the government minister assassinated in 1927.
O'Higgins died while still in office in 1953.
See also
References
- "Thomas Francis O'Higgins". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- "Dr Tom O'Higgins". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by W. T. Cosgrave |
Leader of the Opposition January–June 1944 (acting) |
Succeeded by Richard Mulcahy |
| Preceded by Oscar Traynor |
Minister for Defence 1948–1951 |
Succeeded by Seán Mac Eoin |
| Preceded by Daniel Morrissey |
Minister for Industry and Commerce March–June 1951 |
Succeeded by Seán Lemass |