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Frank Aiken (February 13, 1898 - May 18, 1983), was a senior Irish politician. He was a founder-member of Fianna Fáil and was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each election until 1973. Aiken served as Minister for Defence (1932-1943), Minister for Co-Ordination of Defensive Measures (1943-1945), Minister for Finance (1945-1948) and Minister for External Affairs (1951-1954 & 1957-1969). He served as Tánaiste from 1965 to 1969.
Frank Aiken was born on February 13, 1896 at Camlough in County Armagh. He was educated at Newry CBS and in 1914 he joined the Irish Volunteers. In 1921 he became commandant of the 4th Northern Division of the IRA. In this role he led many attacks against British forces. When the Civil War broke out in 1922 Aiken tried to remain neutral for as long as possible. In April 1923 he succeeded Liam Lynch in becoming Chief of Staff of the IRA. On May 24 of that year he gave the order to 'cease fire and dump arms.' The Civil War was over..
Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 as a Republican Anti-Treaty TD. In 1926 he became a founder-member of Eamon de Valera's Fianna Fáil Party. In 1932 Fianna Fáil came to power for the first time and Aiken was appointed Minister for Defence. During World War II Aiken served as Minister for Co-ordination of Defensive Measures, in the government which followed The Emergency, Aiken was appointed Minister for Finance.
Between 1951 and 1969 (except from 1954 to 1957 when Fianna Fáil were in opposition) Aiken served as Minister for External Affairs. At the United Nations he won the respect and admiration of smaller nations for taking an independent stance, on behalf of Ireland, on a range of controversial issues. In 1965 Aiken was appointed Tánaiste under Sean Lemass. He was also appointed Tánaiste under Jack Lynch the following year. He introduced the so-called 'Aiken Plan' to the United Nations in an effort to combine disarmament and peace in the Middle East. He received the honour to sign as first minister the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968 in Moscow.
Aiken retired from Ministerial office in 1969. During the Arms Crisis it is said that the Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, turned to Aiken for advice on a number of issues. He is supposed to have retired from politics in 1973 due to the fact that Charles Haughey, whom Aiken disliked, was allowed run with the support of Fianna Fáil in the general election. Aiken received many award and accolades from Irish universities and was a life-long promoter of the Irish language.
Frank Aiken died on May 18, 1983 in Dublin.
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