Frank MacDermot

Francis Charles MacDermot (25 November 1886 – 24 June 1975) was an Irish barrister, soldier, politician and historian who served as Senator from 1937 to 1943, after being nominated by the Taoiseach. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Roscommon constituency from 1932 to 1937. He was also a founding member of Fine Gael.

Early life MacDermot was born in Dublin, the seventh and youngest son of Hugh Hyacinth O'Rorke MacDermot, Prince of Coolavin. He was educated at Downside School and the University of Oxford and qualified as a barrister. He was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps during World War I and ended the war as a Major. He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1932 general election as an Independent TD for Roscommon.

Founding of Fine Gael In 1933, anticipating another election that year, he founded the National Centre Party alongside James Dillon, and became the party's leader. The party was short-lived; MacDermot led the National Centre Party to merge with Cumann na nGaedheal and the Blueshirts to form Fine Gael that same year, and became a vice-president of the new party. It was reputedly MacDermot who devised the name of the party. By September 1934, O'Duffy had resigned as leader and left the party. Together Elaine and Frank had one son, Brian MacDermot. Orr Thayer died in 1974. MacDermot died in 1975 while on a visit to London.