Kevin O'Higgins

Kevin O'Higgins
O'Higgins in 1922
Vice-President of the Executive Council
In office
6 December 1922 – 10 July 1927
PresidentW. T. Cosgrave
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byErnest Blythe
Minister for Justice
In office
30 August 1922 – 10 July 1927
PresidentW. T. Cosgrave
Preceded byEamonn Duggan
Succeeded byW. T. Cosgrave
Minister for External Affairs
In office
23 June 1927 – 10 July 1927
PresidentW. T. Cosgrave
Preceded byDesmond FitzGerald
Succeeded byW. T. Cosgrave
Minister for Economic Affairs
In office
10 January 1922 – 9 September 1922
PresidentMichael Collins
W. T. Cosgrave
Preceded byRobert Barton
Succeeded byErnest Blythe
Teachta Dála
In office
August 1923 – 10 July 1927
ConstituencyDublin County
In office
May 1921 – August 1923
ConstituencyLaois-Offaly
In office
June 1918 – May 1921
ConstituencyQueen's County
Personal details
Born(1892-06-07)7 June 1892
Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland
Died10 July 1927(1927-07-10) (aged 35)
Booterstown, Dublin, Ireland
Manner of deathAssassination
Resting placeGlasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland
Political partyCumann na nGaedheal (1923–1927)
Other political
affiliations
Sinn Féin (1918–1923)
Spouse
Brigid Cole
(m. 1915)
Children5
Relatives
Education
Alma materUniversity College Dublin

Kevin Christopher O'Higgins (Irish: Caoimhghín Críostóir Ó hUigín; 7 June 1892 – 10 July 1927) was an Irish politician who served as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Justice from 1922 to 1927, Minister for External Affairs from June 1927 to July 1927 and Minister for Economic Affairs from January 1922 to September 1922. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1918 to 1927.[1]

He was part of early nationalist Sinn Féin, before going on to become a prominent member of Cumann na nGaedheal. In his capacity as Minister for Justice, O'Higgins established the Garda Síochána police force. His brother Thomas and nephews Tom and Michael were also elected TDs at various stages.

Along with Arthur Griffith, Michael Collins and Eoin O'Duffy, O'Higgins is an important figure in Irish nationalist historiography, representing a more "conservative revolutionary" position when contrasted with republicanism. After having a role in the Irish War of Independence, he went on to defend the nascent Irish Free State, as part of the pro-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War. During this time he signed the execution orders of seventy-seven prisoners. He was later assassinated in retaliation by an IRA unit in Booterstown, County Dublin.

  1. ^ "Kevin O'Higgins". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2012.

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