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John Wilson
John Wilson
	Wilson in 1987
Tánaiste
	In office; 13 November 1990 – 12 January 1993
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey; Albert Reynolds;
Preceded by	Brian Lenihan
Succeeded by	Dick Spring
Minister for Defence
	In office; 11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993
Taoiseach	Albert Reynolds
Preceded by	Vincent Brady
Succeeded by	David Andrews
Minister for the Gaeltacht
	In office; 11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993
Taoiseach	Albert Reynolds
Preceded by	Charles Haughey
Succeeded by	Michael D. Higgins
Minister for the Marine
	In office; 12 July 1989 – 11 February 1992
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Preceded by	Brendan Daly
Succeeded by	Michael Woods
Minister for Tourism and Transport
	In office; 31 March 1987 – 12 July 1989
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Preceded by	Ray MacSharry
Succeeded by	Séamus Brennan
Minister for Communications
	In office; 10 March 1987 – 31 March 1987
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Preceded by	Jim Mitchell
Succeeded by	Ray Burke
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
	In office; 9 March 1982 – 14 December 1982
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Preceded by	Patrick Cooney
Succeeded by	Jim Mitchell
Minister for Education
	In office; 5 July 1977 – 30 June 1981
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch; Charles Haughey;
Preceded by	Peter Barry
Succeeded by	John Boland
Teachta Dála
	In office; June 1977 – November 1992
Constituency	Cavan–Monaghan
	In office; February 1973 – June 1977
Constituency	Cavan
Personal details
Born	8 July 1923; Kilcogy, County Cavan, Ireland
Died	9 July 2007 (aged 84); Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Ita Ward
Children	5
Relatives	Diarmuid Wilson (nephew)
Education	St. Mel's College
Alma mater	National University of Ireland; University of London;

John Patrick Wilson (8 July 1923 – 9 July 2007) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from 1990 to 1993, Minister for Defence and Minister for the Gaeltacht from 1992 to 1993, Minister for the Marine from 1989 to 1992, Minister for Tourism and Transport from 1987 to 1989, Minister for Communications in March 1987, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from March 1982 to December 1982 and Minister for Education from 1977 to 1981. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1973 to 1992.^[1]

Early life

Wilson was born in 1923 at Callanagh, Kilcogy, County Cavan, the son of John Wilson, a farmer, and his wife Brigid (née Comaskey).^[2] He was educated at St. Mel's College in Longford, the University of London and the National University of Ireland. In 1942 he entered Maynooth College to train for the catholic priesthood, but left after four years as a seminarian.^[2] He graduated with a Master of Arts in Classics and a Higher Diploma in Education. He was a secondary school teacher at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny and Gonzaga College and also a university lecturer at University College Dublin (UCD), before he became involved in politics.^[3]

Gaelic football

Wilson was also a Gaelic footballer for the Cavan county team, with which he won two All-Ireland medals; one in 1947 in the Polo Grounds, New York.^[4] He was a member of the teachers trade union, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), and served as president of the association.^[5] While at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny (at which time he lived at 3 College Row, close to the school gates,^[6] and taught within them between 1952 and 1960),^[7]^[8]

Wilson was known as "Big Johnny", training the team that would reach the final of the 1961 MacRory Cup (though he departed for a teaching post at Gonzaga College midway through the year).^[9]

Political career

Wilson was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1973 general election for the Cavan constituency, for Cavan–Monaghan in 1977 and at each subsequent election until his retirement after the dissolution of the 26th Dail in 1992.^[10] He was succeeded as Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan by his special advisor, Brendan Smith, who went on to serve as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 2008 to 2011. In 1977, Taoiseach Jack Lynch appointed Wilson to the cabinet as Minister for Education. He went on to serve in each Fianna Fáil government until his retirement, serving in the governments of Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey and Albert Reynolds.

In 1990, Wilson challenged Brian Lenihan for the Fianna Fáil nomination for the 1990 presidential election. Lenihan won the nomination but failed to be elected President and was also sacked from the government. Wilson was then appointed Tánaiste. He remained in the cabinet until retirement in 1993. Although the 26th Dail was dissolved in December 1992, Wilson served in Government until the new government took office.

Retirement

Following his retirement from politics, Wilson was appointed the Commissioner of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. This position entailed involvement with members of the Provisional IRA to assist in finding the bodies of the disappeared who were murdered by the Provisional IRA during The Troubles.

Wilson died in Beaumont, Dublin, on 9 July 2007.^[4]

References

^ "John P. Wilson". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
^ ^a ^b Clavin, Terry. "Wilson, John Patrick". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ "Former tánaiste John Wilson dies". The Irish Times. 7 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
^ ^a ^b "Cavan legend John Wilson passes away". RTÉ News. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
^ "Former Tanaiste John Wilson dies". Longford Leader. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
^ O'Sullivan, Jim (2006). "Michael Kerr — Remembered". St. Eunan's College: 1906 - 2006. Browne Printers Ltd. pp. 157–8.
^ Strain, Hugh (24 October 2006). "Football in St. Eunan's in the 1950s". Archived from the original on 24 October 2006.
^ St. Eunan's College: 1906 - 2006. Browne Printers Ltd. 2006. p. 198.
^ "The Mac Rory Cup Campaign of 1960/61". Archived from the original on 24 October 2006.
^ "John Wilson". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2013.

External links

Friends we lost: Mr. John Wilson – Article at Hogan Stand

Political offices
Preceded by Peter Barry	Minister for Education 1977–1981	Succeeded by John Boland
Preceded by Patrick Cooney	Minister for Posts and Telegraphs 1982	Succeeded by Jim Mitchell
Preceded by Jim Mitchell	Minister for Communications 1987	Succeeded by Ray Burke
Preceded by Ray MacSharry	Minister for Tourism and Transport 1987–1989	Succeeded by Séamus Brennan
Preceded by Brendan Daly	Minister for the Marine 1989–1992	Succeeded by Michael Woods
Preceded by Brian Lenihan	Tánaiste 1990–1993	Succeeded by Dick Spring
Preceded by Vincent Brady	Minister for Defence 1992–1993	Succeeded by David Andrews
Preceded by Charles Haughey	Minister for the Gaeltacht 1992–1993	Succeeded by Michael D. Higgins
Party political offices
Preceded by Brian Lenihan Snr	Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil 1990–1992	Succeeded by Bertie Ahern