(Robert) Erskine Childers

Irish nationalist and writer, born in London, UK. He studied at Cambridge, fought in the South African and First World Wars, and wrote a popular spy story, The Riddle of the Sands (1903), and several works of non-fiction. After the establishment of the Irish Free State, he joined the Irish Republican Army, and was active in the Civil War. He was captured and executed. His son Erskine Hamilton Childers (1905–74) was president of Ireland (1973–4).

Erskine Childers was the name of three generations of Irish men notable for their involvement in 20th century politics:

Robert Erskine Childers was an Irish author and nationalist, who served as secretary-general of the Irish delegation that negotiated the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921. His son Erskine Hamilton Childers, was a Fianna Fáil minister who became President of Ireland. In turn, his son Erskine Childers (1929-1996) was a UN civil servant from 1967-1989, retiring as a Senior Adviser to the UN Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.