T. K. Whitaker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T. K. Whitaker
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| Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland | |
| In office 1 May 1969 – 8 September 1976 |
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| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Maurice Moynihan |
| Succeeded by | Charles Henry Murray |
| Senator | |
| In office 20 June 1977 – 3 February 1982 |
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| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Kenneth Whitaker
8 December 1916 Rostrevor, County Down, Ireland |
| Died | 9 January 2017 (aged 100) Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | Shanganagh Cemetery, Shankill, Dublin, Ireland |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | University of London (BA), (MSc) |
Thomas Kenneth Whitaker (1916–2017) was a very important person in Irish history. He was an economist, a politician, and a public servant. He helped guide Ireland's economy for many years. People remember him for his big role in making Ireland's economy grow and become stronger.
He worked as the main leader of Ireland's Department of Finance from 1956 to 1969. Later, he became the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland from 1969 to 1976. He also served as a Senator from 1977 to 1982.
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Early Life and Education
T. K. Whitaker was born in Rostrevor, a small town in County Down, on December 8, 1916. He grew up in Drogheda, County Louth. His parents were not from Ulster. His mother, Jane O'Connor, was from County Clare. His father, Edward Whitaker, was from County Westmeath. He worked as an assistant manager at a linen factory.
Whitaker went to school at the local CBS in Drogheda. He studied many subjects by taking courses through the mail from the University of London. He earned degrees in economics, getting his first degree in 1941 and a master's degree in 1952.
A Career in Public Service
In 1956, when he was 39, Whitaker became the Secretary of the Department of Finance. This was a tough time for Ireland's economy. The country was facing a deep economic downturn. There was no growth, high inflation, and many people were out of work. Lots of people were also leaving Ireland to find jobs elsewhere.
Whitaker believed that free trade was the way forward. This meant more competition and less protectionism. He thought jobs should move from farming to factories and services. He put together a team to study the economy. They created a plan with ideas for improvement.
The government accepted his plan. It was published in 1958 as the First Programme for Economic Expansion. This plan, sometimes called the "Grey Book," helped bring foreign investment into Ireland.
Whitaker also served in the Seanad, which is part of the Irish parliament. In 1977, Taoiseach Jack Lynch chose him to be a Senator. He served as an independent Senator until 1981. In 1981, Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald also nominated him to the Seanad. He served there until 1982. FitzGerald also asked him to lead a group looking into Ireland's prison system.
Whitaker was also the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland from 1976 to 1996. He was also the President of the Royal Irish Academy. He loved the Irish language very much. A collection of Irish poems was even dedicated to him.
Awards and Special Recognition
T. K. Whitaker received many awards and honors during his life. In 2001, he was named "Irishman of the 20th Century." In 2002, he was called the "Greatest Living Irish Person."
In 2014, the Institute of Banking gave him an Honorary Fellowship. They also created a scholarship in his name. In 2015, University College Dublin's Economics Society gave him a lifetime achievement award. This was for his amazing work on Ireland's economic policy.
In November 2016, to celebrate his 100th birthday, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council honored him. They recognized his great work for public service in Ireland.
Whitaker Square
There is a place called Whitaker Square in the Grand Canal Dock area of Dublin 2. It is named after him. The offices of the Economic and Social Research Institute are located there.
Personal Life
Whitaker married Nora Fogarty in 1941. They had six children together. Nora passed away in 1994. In 2005, he married Mary Moore. In 2006, the President of Ireland invited them to Áras an Uachtaráin for his 90th birthday. Mary Moore Whitaker died in 2008.
T. K. Whitaker turned 100 years old in December 2016. He passed away a month later on January 9, 2017. He had outlived both of his wives.
Whitaker and his family often spoke Irish at home. They spent a lot of time in the North Mayo Gaeltacht, an area where Irish is spoken. They bought and fixed up an old schoolhouse there in 1972. Whitaker also enjoyed fishing for salmon in nearby lakes.
