James Ryan
Dr. James Ryan (December 6, [[1891] - September 25, 1970]), was a senior Irish politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each election until his retirement in 1965. He has served as Minister for Agriculture (1932-1947), Minister for Health & Social Welfare (1947-1948 & 1951-1954) and has been Minister for Finance (1957-1965).
James Ryan was born on December 6, 1891 in Wexford. He was educated in Wexford and qualified in medicine from University College Dublin. As a medical student he joined the Irish Volunteers and served as medical officer in the GPO during the Easter Rising in 1916. He was sentenced to life imprisonment following the Rising, but was released in 1917 after an amnesty. In 1918 Ryan became a Sinn Féin MP for Wexford. He supported the Republican side after the Treaty debates in 1921. He was elected Republican TD for Wexford in 1923 an in 1926 Ryan, along with de Valera, Lemass and others became a founder-member of Fianna Fáil.
In 1932 he was appointed Minister for Agriculture when Fianna Fáil came to power. He held that post until 1947 when he became the first ever Minister for Health & Social Welfare. Between 1957 and 1965 he served as Minister for Finance. He transformed the department to a dynamic one of economic affairs. He worked extensively with Dr T.K. Whitaker in laying the groundwork for the first Programme for Economic Expansion (1959). Ryan retired from politics in 1965 to his farm in County Wicklow.
Dr James Ryan died on September 25, 1970.
Cabinet Positions
