Douglas Hyde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Douglas Hyde
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st President of Ireland | |
| In office 25 June 1938 – 24 June 1945 |
|
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Seán T. O'Kelly |
| Senator | |
| In office 27 April 1938 – 4 May 1938 |
|
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| In office 16 February 1922 – 4 September 1925 |
|
| Constituency | National University of Ireland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Douglas Ross Hyde
17 January 1860 Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Died | 12 July 1949 (aged 89) Little Ratra, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease |
| Resting place | Portahard Church Cemetery, Frenchpark, County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Lucy Kurtz (m. 1893; d. 1937) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
| Profession |
|
| Signature |  |
Douglas Hyde (born January 17, 1860, died July 12, 1949) was a very important person in Irish history. He became the first President of Ireland in 1938 and served until 1945. He was also the founder of the Gaelic League, a group that helped save the Irish language and culture. He loved the Irish language so much that he used its spelling for his own name, Dubhghlas de hÍde, and a special pen name, "An Craoibhin Aoibhinn."
Contents
Early Life and Irish Culture
Douglas Hyde was born in Castlerea, County Roscommon, in 1860. His father, Arthur Hyde, was a minister in the Church of Ireland. As a child, Douglas was fascinated by the old people in his area who spoke the Irish language. At that time, many people thought the Irish language was old-fashioned.
In 1893, Hyde decided to do something to protect the language. He started the Gaelic League, also known as Conradh na Gaeilge. He hoped this group would help keep the Irish language from disappearing.
The Gaelic League's Impact
The Gaelic League was created to encourage Irish culture, including music, dances, and the language itself. Many young Irish leaders who later fought for Ireland's independence were first inspired by the Gaelic League. These leaders included Patrick Pearse, Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, and Ernest Blythe.
However, Hyde became worried when the league started to get involved in politics instead of just culture. He resigned as its president in 1915. Patrick Pearse, a strong supporter of Irish independence, took over from him. This change showed that the league was becoming more connected with political groups like the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
A Role in Politics
Douglas Hyde was not part of the main political parties fighting for Irish independence, like Sinn Féin. However, he did accept a position in Seanad Éireann, which is part of the Irish parliament.
In 1925, he lost an election for the senate. This was partly because of false rumors about his beliefs and his religion. After this, he became a professor of Irish at University College Dublin. One of his students there was Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, who later also became President of Ireland.
Becoming President
In April 1938, Hyde had retired. But Taoiseach Éamon de Valera asked him to become a Senator again. He wasn't a Senator for long, because he was soon chosen to be the first President of Ireland.
There were several reasons why he was chosen:
- Both the Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, and the leader of the opposition, W. T. Cosgrave, admired him.
- They wanted to make up for the false rumors that had been spread about him in 1925.
- They wanted to show that the new president would not have too much power. Many people were worried about this when Ireland's new constitution was being written in 1937.
- They wanted to honor Hyde's important work with the Gaelic League in helping Ireland become independent.
- They also wanted to choose someone from a different religion to show that the new Ireland respected all faiths.
Hyde became the first President of Ireland in June 1938. He moved into the old "Vice Regal Lodge," which had been the home of British officials. Hyde renamed it Áras an Uachtaráin, meaning "House of the President." He took his oath of office in Irish. The recording of his voice is one of the few examples of the old Roscommon Irish dialect, which has now disappeared.
A Popular President
President Hyde was well-liked. The United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt called him a "fine and scholarly old gentleman." President Hyde even exchanged letters about stamp collecting with King George VI of the United Kingdom.
In April 1940, Hyde became very ill. People thought he might not survive, and preparations were made for a state funeral. But to everyone's surprise, he recovered, though he needed a wheelchair afterward.
President Hyde twice asked the Supreme Court to check if a new law followed the Constitution. The first time, the court said the law was fine. The second time, the court said a part of the law was "repugnant to the Constitution," meaning it went against the Constitution. Hyde then told the Dáil (Irish parliament) that he would not sign that part of the law.
Later Life and Passing
Hyde finished his term as president on June 25, 1945. Because of his health, he did not go back to his home in Roscommon called Ratra. Instead, he moved into a smaller house on the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin. He renamed this house Little Ratra. He lived there for four more years and passed away peacefully on July 12, 1949, at the age of 89.
A Special Farewell
As a former President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde was given a state funeral. Since he was a member of the Church of Ireland, his funeral service took place in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. At that time, the Catholic Church did not allow its members to attend services in non-Catholic churches. So, almost all of the Catholic government ministers waited outside the cathedral during the service. They joined the funeral procession when Hyde's coffin left the cathedral. Éamon de Valera, who was then the Leader of the Opposition, sent Erskine Hamilton Childers to represent him. Childers was also a member of the Church of Ireland and later became President of Ireland himself. Hyde was buried in County Roscommon, where he had spent much of his childhood.
Images for kids
-
Hyde as a young man
-
Portrait of Hyde
-
.
Hyde was the only leader of independent Ireland to be featured on its banknotes, here on a Series C Banknote of IR£50.
-
Douglas Hyde (in back of car holding top hat), leaving Dublin Castle with a cavalry escort following his inauguration
See also
In Spanish: Douglas Hyde para niños
