William Cosgrave was an Irish politician who served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932. He was a member of the Cumann na nGaedheal party and played a significant role in shaping the early government of Ireland after gaining independence from British rule. Born on June 6, 1880, in County Dublin, Cosgrave was involved in politics from a young age. He was a key figure in the Irish War of Independence and later helped establish the foundations of the modern Irish state, focusing on economic stability and governance.