Francis Humphreys

Who was Francis Humphreys?

Francis Humphreys was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála for a total of 19 years between 1932 and 1961, winning a seat at seven general elections and losing it three times.

A medical practitioner before entering politics, Humphreys was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt, at the 1932 general election for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency. He lost his seat at the 1933 election, but in July 1937 he was returned to the 9th Dáil as the last of four candidates to be elected in the new Carlow–Kildare constituency at the 1937 election.

Humphreys was re-elected a three further general elections, in 1938, 1943 and 1944. After further constituency changes he was defeated again at the 1948 general election in the restored Carlow–Kilkenny constituency. At the 1951 election, he was returned to the 14th Dáil, unseating Labour Party's James Pattison. He lost again to Pattison at the 1954 election, before ousting Pattison again at the 1957 general election.

He died on 19 April 1961, before completing his seventh term in Dáil Éireann. No by-election was held for his seat in the 16th Dáil, which remained vacant until the 1961 general election on 4 October, when he was replaced by Labour's Séamus Pattison, son of his rival James Pattison.