# Martin McGuinness

> Sinn Féin politician and deputy First Minister (1950-2017)

**Wikidata**: [Q57689](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57689)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_McGuinness)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/martin-mcguinness

## Summary
Martin McGuinness was a Sinn Féin politician and deputy First Minister who played a key role in Irish republicanism and Northern Ireland's political landscape from 1950 to 2017. He was a prominent figure in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and later served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the UK Parliament. His leadership shaped the political trajectory of Northern Ireland during a period of conflict and peace negotiations.

## Biography
- Born: May 23, 1950
- Nationality: Irish
- Education: No formal education details provided
- Known for: Leading Sinn Féin and the PIRA during Northern Ireland's Troubles
- Employer(s): Sinn Féin, Northern Ireland Assembly, UK Parliament
- Field(s): Political activism, Irish republicanism

## Contributions
Martin McGuinness co-founded Sinn Féin in 1970 and served as its president from 1983 to 2017. He was a key figure in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and played a central role in the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He held various political offices, including Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (1998–2002) and Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (1998–2017). He also served as a Member of the UK Parliament (1997–2017). His leadership during the conflict and subsequent political career influenced Northern Ireland's transition to peace and governance.

## FAQs
**What political roles did Martin McGuinness hold?**
Martin McGuinness served as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (1998–2002), a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (1998–2017), and a Member of the UK Parliament (1997–2017). He was also president of Sinn Féin from 1983 to 2017.

**What was Martin McGuinness' role in the PIRA?**
Martin McGuinness was a co-founder of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and played a significant role in its leadership during the Northern Ireland conflict. He was arrested in 1974 and imprisoned for his involvement.

**How did Martin McGuinness contribute to the peace process?**
Martin McGuinness was a key negotiator in the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He supported the establishment of a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland and worked to resolve the conflict through political means.

**What was Martin McGuinness' relationship with Sinn Féin?**
Martin McGuinness co-founded Sinn Féin in 1970 and served as its president from 1983 to 2017. He was a central figure in the party's leadership and political strategy.

## Why They Matter
Martin McGuinness was a pivotal figure in Northern Ireland's political history, shaping the course of the conflict and the subsequent peace process. His leadership in Sinn Féin and the PIRA, along with his political career, had a profound impact on the region's transition from violence to governance. His role in the Good Friday Agreement and the establishment of a power-sharing government helped to stabilize Northern Ireland and pave the way for its future. His influence extended beyond Northern Ireland, as his political strategies and negotiations set precedents for other conflict-resolution efforts.

## Notable For
- Co-founder of Sinn Féin (1970)
- President of Sinn Féin (1983–2017)
- Key leader of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA)
- Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (1998–2002)
- Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (1998–2017)
- Member of the UK Parliament (1997–2017)
- Central figure in the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement (1998)

## Body
### Early Life and Activism
Martin McGuinness was born on May 23, 1950, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He grew up in a working-class family and became involved in Irish republicanism at a young age. He co-founded Sinn Féin in 1970 and was elected as its president in 1983. He was also a key figure in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), serving as a senior member of its leadership.

### Political Career
Martin McGuinness was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 and served until 2017. He also served as a Member of the UK Parliament from 1997 to 2017. In 1998, he was appointed Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, a position he held until 2002. He played a central role in the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which established a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

### Legacy and Influence
Martin McGuinness' leadership during the Northern Ireland conflict and his political career had a lasting impact on the region. His role in the peace process and the establishment of a power-sharing government helped to stabilize Northern Ireland and pave the way for its future. His influence extended beyond Northern Ireland, as his political strategies and negotiations set precedents for other conflict-resolution efforts. He died on March 21, 2017, at the age of 66.

## References

1. [Martin McGuinness: From IRA chief to deputy Northern Ireland First Minister. The Daily Telegraph](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/9359356/Martin-McGuinness-From-IRA-chief-to-deputy-Northern-Ireland-First-Minister.html)
2. [Source](https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0321/861287-martin-mcguinness-death/)
3. Integrated Authority File
4. [McGuinness unable to vote for himself. independent.ie. 2011](http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mcguinness-unable-to-vote-for-himself-26786400.html)
5. [MLA Details: Mr Martin McGuinness. Northern Ireland Assembly](http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/details.aspx?&aff=11701&per=71&c=2)
6. TheyWorkForYou
7. [Martin McGuinness. Sinn Féin](http://www.sinnfein.ie/martin-mcguinness)
8. [McGuinness confirms IRA role. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2001](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/1308899.stm)
9. [Source](http://heavy.com/news/2017/03/martin-mcguinness-dead-funeral-amyloidosis/)
10. [Source](https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2661770/martin-mcguinness-illness-amyloidosis-causes-treatment/)
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
13. Munzinger Personen
14. [英・北アイルランド前副首相が死去…６６歳. Yomiuri Shimbun Company. 2017](http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/20170321-OYT1T50131.html)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. Davos 2004 List of Participants
17. BBC Things
18. UK House of Commons Election Results at Constituency Level
19. Virtual International Authority File
20. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File