Martin McGuinness was a prominent Northern Irish politician and former leader of the Sinn Féin party. Born on May 23, 1950, in Derry, he became involved in political activism during the Troubles, a period of conflict in Northern Ireland. McGuinness served as the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2017, playing a key role in the peace process. Before his political career, McGuinness was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), where he held significant leadership positions. He was known for his efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation between different communities in Northern Ireland, contributing to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. McGuinness passed away on March 21, 2017.