Erskine Hamilton Childers facts for kids

Erskine Hamilton Childers (born 11 December 1905 – died 17 November 1974) was an important Irish politician. He was the fourth President of Ireland, serving from 1973 until he passed away in 1974. Before becoming President, he was a TD (a member of the Irish Parliament) from 1938 to 1973.

Childers held several important jobs in the Irish government. He was the:

• Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (1951–1954, 1959–1961, and 1966–1969)
• Minister for Lands (1957–1959)
• Minister for Transport and Power (1959–1969)
• Minister for Health (1969–1973)

In 1969, he was also chosen as Tánaiste, which is like a Deputy Prime Minister in Ireland.

Early Life and Family

Memorial to Erskine Childers in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

Erskine Childers was born in London, England. His father was Robert Erskine Childers, a famous author who wrote a spy book called The Riddle of the Sands.

After the First World War, young Erskine moved to Ireland. He lived in County Wicklow with his father. His father was a strong supporter of Irish independence. He even helped bring guns to Ireland for the Easter Rising in 1916. He was against the Anglo-Irish Treaty that created the Irish Free State.

Erskine Childers went to school at Gresham's School in England and then to Trinity College, Cambridge.

A Difficult Promise

In 1922, when Erskine was only 16 years old, his father was executed by the Irish Free State government. This was a very sad and difficult time for him. Before his death, his father asked him to make a promise. He asked Erskine to find every person who had signed his father's death warrant and shake their hand. This was a way to show forgiveness and move forward, even after such a tragic event.

Political Journey

After college, Childers worked in Paris for a tourism board. But then, Éamon de Valera, a very important Irish leader, asked him to come back to Ireland. Childers returned to work for a newspaper called the Irish Press. He became an Irish citizen in 1938.

Childers joined the Fianna Fáil political party. He held many different government jobs under leaders like Éamon de Valera, Seán Lemass, and Jack Lynch. In 1969, he became the Tánaiste, the second most powerful person in the government.

Some people thought his time as a minister was difficult, but others admired him for making tough decisions.

President of Ireland

Erskine Childers was elected the fourth President of Ireland on 30 May 1973. He won the election against another candidate, Tom O'Higgins. Even though he was 67 years old, he was a very hard-working President.

Sadly, President Childers died suddenly from a heart attack in November 1974. He was giving a speech to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in Dublin at the time.

His funeral was a very important event. Many world leaders came to St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin to pay their respects. These included Nelson Rockefeller, who was the Vice-President of the United States, and Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who represented Queen Elizabeth II. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Harold Wilson, and many other presidents and leaders from Europe also attended. Childers was buried in County Wicklow.

After his death, many people thought his wife, Rita Childers, might become President to continue his work. However, the job went to Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, who used to be the Chief Justice of Ireland.

Family Legacy

Erskine Childers had a son, also named Erskine. His son worked for the UN and was involved with the World Federation of United Nations Associations. One of his daughters, Nessa Childers, became a local politician for the Green Party (Ireland).

See also

In Spanish: Erskine Hamilton Childers para niños