Frank Aiken
| Frank Aiken | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Tánaiste | |
|
In office 21 April 1965 – 2 July 1969 |
|
| Preceded by | Seán MacEntee |
| Succeeded by | Erskine H. Childers |
| Minister for External Affairs | |
|
In office 20 March 1957 – 2 July 1969 |
|
| Preceded by | Liam Cosgrave |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Hillery |
|
In office 13 June 1951 – 2 June 1954 |
|
| Preceded by | Seán MacBride |
| Succeeded by | Liam Cosgrave |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 February 1898 Camlough, County Armagh, Ireland |
| Died | 18 May 1983 (aged 85) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil (1927–73) |
| Other political affiliations |
Sinn Féin (1923–26) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
Irish Volunteers Irish Republican Army National Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1925 |
| Rank | Chief of Staff |
| Battles/wars |
Irish War of Independence Irish Civil War |
Frank Aiken (13 February 1898 – 18 May 1983) was an Irish politician and a Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army. Originally a member of Sinn Féin, he was later a founding member of Fianna Fáil. Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each subsequent election until 1973. Aiken served as Minister for Defence (1932–39), Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures (1939–45), Minister for Finance (1945–48) and Minister for External Affairs (1951–54 and 1957–69). He also served as Minister for Lands and Fisheries. Aiken served as Tánaiste of Ireland from 1965 until 1969. He holds the distinction of being the second longest-serving member of Dáil Éireann.
Francis Thomas (Frank) Aiken was born on 13 February 1898 at Carrickbracken, Camlough in County Armagh, the seventh and youngest child of James Aiken, a builder from Co Tyrone, and Mary McGeeney of Corromannon, Beleek, Co. Armagh. James built Catholic churches in South Armagh. Aiken was a nationalist, a member of the IRB and a county councillor, who refused an offer to stand as an MP. James was Chairman of the Local Board of the Poor Guardians. In 1900, on her visit to Ireland, he told Queen Victoria that he would welcome her only "until Ireland has become free."
He was educated in Newry by Irish Christian Brothers at Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School and at St Colman's College, Newry. In 1914 he joined the Irish Volunteers and the Gaelic League. He became secretary of the local branch in 1917, and joining Sinn Féin, founded a Sinn Féin club or cumann at Camlough, County Armagh, while working at the Co-Operative Flax-Scutching society. Aiken was committed to Gaelic speech which he learnt at the Donegal Gaeltacht, Ormeath Irish College.
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