Cosgrave, Liam (1920-2017), was Taoiseach (prime minister) of the Republic of Ireland from 1973 to 1977. He became leader of the Fine Gael Party in 1965 when it was the minority party in Dail Eireann (Ireland’s House of Representatives). After Fine Gael won the most seats in a general election in 1973, Cosgrave formed a government in coalition with the Irish Labour Party. Fine Gael lost the next general election in June 1977, and Cosgrave resigned as party leader.
Cosgrave, the son of Irish political leader William Cosgrave, was born in Dublin on April 13, 1920. He served in the Dail from 1943 to 1981. From 1954 until 1957, he was minister for foreign affairs. Cosgrave died on Oct. 4, 2017.
