Patrick Smith (politician)

Patrick Smith
Minister for Agriculture
In office
27 November 1957  8 October 1964
Preceded by Charles Haughey
Succeeded by Frank Aiken
In office
21 January 1947  18 February 1948
Preceded by James Ryan
Succeeded by James Dillon
Minister for Social Welfare
In office
20 March 1957  27 November 1964
Preceded by Brendan Corish
Succeeded by Seán MacEntee
Minister for Local Government
In office
20 March 1957  27 November 1964
Preceded by Patrick O'Donnell
Succeeded by Neil Blaney
In office
13 June 1951  2 June 1954
Preceded by Michael Keyes
Succeeded by Patrick O'Donnell
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance
In office
2 July 1943  31 December 1947
Preceded by Seán Moylan
Succeeded by Seán O'Grady
Government Chief Whip
In office
27 September 1939  2 July 1943
Preceded by Patrick Little
Succeeded by Éamonn Kissane
Teachta Dála
In office
September 1923  May 1977
Preceded by Arthur Griffith
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Constituency Cavan
Personal details
Born 17 July 1901
Bailieboro, County Cavan, Ireland
Died 18 March 1982 (aged 80)
Castleblaney, County Monaghan, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s) Mary Theresa Ward (m.1936-1982)
Children 6
Occupation Farmer
Religion Roman Catholic

Patrick (Paddy) Smith (17 July 1901 – 18 March 1982) was an Irish politician.[1] He served in a number of government positions under Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass. He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving member of Dáil Éireann, having been a member for 53 years, 11 months.

Born in Bailieborough, County Cavan, Smith was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising and later in the Irish Republican Army, during the War of Independence. An opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1922, Smith was first elected to the Dáil at the 1923 general election at age 22 as a Republican Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan constituency.[2] He was also a founder-member of the Fianna Fáil political party in 1926. During his time as TD he served in the Cabinets of Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass as Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Local Government, and Minister for Social Welfare. He resigned from the government as Minister for Agriculture in 1964 in protest at the government's response to certain farming issues. Smith retired from politics at the 1977 general election at the age of 76.

References

  1. "Mr. Patrick Smith". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  2. "Patrick Smith". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Constituency redrawn
Sinn Féin Teachta Dála for Cavan
1923–1927
Succeeded by
Smith left Sinn Féin and joined Fianna Fáil
Preceded by
Smith was previously a member of Sinn Féin
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Cavan
1927–1977
Constituency abolished
Political offices
Preceded by
Patrick Little
Government Chief Whip
1939–1943
Succeeded by
Eamonn Kissane
Preceded by
Seán Moylan
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance
1943–1947
Succeeded by
Seán O'Grady
Preceded by
James Ryan
Minister for Agriculture
1947–1948
Succeeded by
James Dillon
Preceded by
Michael Keyes
Minister for Local Government
1951–1954
Succeeded by
Patrick O'Donnell
Preceded by
Patrick O'Donnell
Minister for Local Government
Mar–Nov 1957
Succeeded by
Neil Blaney
Preceded by
Brendan Corish
Minister for Social Welfare
Mar–Nov 1957
Succeeded by
Seán MacEntee
Preceded by
Frank Aiken
Minister for Agriculture
1957–1964
Succeeded by
Charles Haughey
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Frank Aiken
Father of the Dáil
1973–1977
Succeeded by
Liam Cosgrave