# Douglas Hyde

_First President of Ireland; historian, poet, and folklorist (1860-1949)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/douglas-hyde
Last updated: 2026-11-06

> Douglas Ross Hyde, known as An Craoibhín Aoibhinn, was an Irish academic, linguist, scholar of the Irish language, politician, and diplomat who served as the first president of Ireland from June 1938 to June 1945. He was a leading figure in the Gaelic revival, and the first president of the Gaelic League, one of the most influential cultural organisations in Ireland at the time.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 17 January 1860 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Castlerea ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P19))
- **Died:** 12 July 1949 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P570))
- **Place of death:** Dublin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Ireland; Irish Free State ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; poet; translator; writer; university teacher; linguist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P106))
- **Political party:** Sinn Féin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P102))
- **Education:** Trinity College, Dublin; Royal University of Ireland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P69))
- **Spouse:** Lucy Cometina Kurtz ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P26))
- **Positions held:** president of Ireland (25 June 1938 – 24 June 1945); senator of Ireland (27 April 1938 – 4 May 1938); senator of Ireland (4 February 1925 – 6 December 1925); president (1894–1895); president (1893–1915); founder; president ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P39))
- **Awards:** Doctor of Letters; honorary citizenship; honorary citizen of Dublin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951#P166))

## Questions

**When was Douglas Hyde born?**  
Douglas Hyde was born on 17 January 1860 in Castlerea.

**What positions has Douglas Hyde held?**  
Positions held by Douglas Hyde include: president of Ireland (1938–1945); senator of Ireland (1938–1938); senator of Ireland (1925–1925); president (1894–1895); president (1893–1915).

**Where did Douglas Hyde study?**  
Douglas Hyde was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Royal University of Ireland.

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- [Michael D. Higgins](https://diginpl.com/people/michael-d-higgins)
- [Mary McAleese](https://diginpl.com/people/mary-mcaleese)
- [Mary Robinson](https://diginpl.com/people/mary-robinson)
- [Patrick Hillery](https://diginpl.com/people/patrick-hillery)
- [Seán T. O'Kelly](https://diginpl.com/people/sean-t-o-kelly)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Douglas Hyde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Hyde) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q237951](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237951) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Douglas Hyde - Project Gutenberg eText 19028.jpg by Alice Boughton (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Douglas_Hyde_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_19028.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Douglas Hyde, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Douglas Hyde - Project Gutenberg eText 19028.jpg — Alice Boughton, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Douglas Hyde". DigiNepal. Last updated 6 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/douglas-hyde. Retrieved 6 November 2026.