Native New Yorker Eamon de Valera was raised in Ireland and led the Irish government between 1932 and 1937. After 1937 he served three terms as Prime Minister and two as President of the Irish Republic.

Eamon de Valera was born in New York City on October 14, 1882. About one month later, Dr. Charles Murray reported the birth to the City's Health Department. The Doctor recorded de Valera's first name as George.

In 1910, de Valera's mother Catherine applied to the Health Department to amend her son's birth certificate. She filled-out a new birth certificate indicating her son's name first name was "Edward." Her application was approved and a new certificate was pasted over the original certificate. Both are on file in the New York City Municipal Archives.

On March 9, 1948, New York City honored Eamon de Valera, the former Prime Minister of Ireland, with a ticker-tape parade along lower Broadway in Manhattan, and a luncheon. In this photograph de Valera is flanked by Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York and Acting Mayor Impellitteri. Collection: Mayor's Reception Committee

De Valera thanked Acting Mayor Impellitteri for his hospitality in this letter dated April 13, 1948. The letter is in the subject files of Mayor William O'Dwyer.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Commissioner Brian Andersson present framed de Valera documents to Irish President Mary McAleese at Gracie Mansion, Saturday, March 16, 2002. Credit: Christie Johnston, Mayor's Photo Unit.