(1882–1975), Irish statesman; born in the US, taoiseach (prime minister) 1937–48, 1951–54, and 1957–59 and president of the Republic of Ireland 1959–73. He was the leader of Sinn Fein 1917–26 and the founder of the Fianna Fáil Party in 1926. As president of the Irish Free State from 1932, de Valera was largely responsible for the new constitution of 1937 that created the state of Éire.