Joseph Brennan (civil servant)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Brennan was a senior Irish civil servant
born in Bandon
, County Cork
, Ireland
on 18 November 1887.
In 1909 he entered Christ Church, Cambridge where he studied mathematics and then switched to classics. In successive years he obtained a first in Latin and Greek. In 1911 he entered the Civil Service and was assigned to the Board of Customs and Excise and a year later transferred to the finance division of the Chief Secretary's office in Dublin Castle
.
During the July 1921 Truce he was introduced to Michael Collins and later became a financial advisor to the team negotiating the Anglo-Irish Treaty
.
In April, 1922 he became the Irish Free State
's first Comptroller and Auditor - General and in April of the following year he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Finance
, a post he held until his retirement from the Civil Service in 1927. Later that year he was appointed Chairman of the Currency Commission.
In 1925 his lengthy note on the Free State's financial position was helpful in concluding the Irish Boundary Commission negotiations.
When the Currency Commission was dissolved in 1943 he became the first Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland. From 1928 until his retirement in 1953 his signature appeared on all Irish Banknotes.
In 1938 Joseph Brennan was conferred with an Honorary LLD by the National University of Ireland. He died in 1963.
Hardcover, Institute of Public Administration, ISBN 0906980208 (0-906980-20-8)
Civil service of the Republic of Ireland
The Civil Service of Ireland is the collective term for the permanent staff of the Departments of State and certain State Agencies who advise and work for the Government of Ireland. It consists of two broad components, the Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State...
born in Bandon
Bandon, County Cork
Bandon is a town in County Cork, Ireland. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on 18 November 1887.
In 1909 he entered Christ Church, Cambridge where he studied mathematics and then switched to classics. In successive years he obtained a first in Latin and Greek. In 1911 he entered the Civil Service and was assigned to the Board of Customs and Excise and a year later transferred to the finance division of the Chief Secretary's office in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
.
During the July 1921 Truce he was introduced to Michael Collins and later became a financial advisor to the team negotiating the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
.
In April, 1922 he became the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
's first Comptroller and Auditor - General and in April of the following year he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Finance
Department of Finance (Ireland)
The Department of Finance is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Finance and is assisted by one Minister of State....
, a post he held until his retirement from the Civil Service in 1927. Later that year he was appointed Chairman of the Currency Commission.
In 1925 his lengthy note on the Free State's financial position was helpful in concluding the Irish Boundary Commission negotiations.
When the Currency Commission was dissolved in 1943 he became the first Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland. From 1928 until his retirement in 1953 his signature appeared on all Irish Banknotes.
In 1938 Joseph Brennan was conferred with an Honorary LLD by the National University of Ireland. He died in 1963.
Biography
- No Man's Man: A Biographical Memoir of Joseph Brennan, by Leon O Broin
Hardcover, Institute of Public Administration, ISBN 0906980208 (0-906980-20-8)