Eamon de Valera was an important Irish politician and statesman, born on October 14, 1882, in New York City. He played a key role in the struggle for Irish independence and was a prominent figure in the Easter Rising of 1916. De Valera later became the leader of the Sinn Féin party and served as the President of the Irish Republic. He was a significant figure in Irish politics for several decades, serving as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and later as President of Ireland. De Valera was instrumental in drafting the 1937 Constitution, which established the modern Irish state. He remained influential until his retirement in the 1970s.