James Colbert
{{About|the Irish politician|the Scottish trader and military officer|James Colbert (trader)|the American golfer|Jim Colbert|the American physician|James William Colbert Jr.}}
{{Short description|Irish politician (1890–1970)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = James Colbert
| image = James Colbert, 1927 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Colbert in 1927
| office = Teachta Dála
| term_start = August 1923
| term_end = January 1933
| constituency = Limerick
| nationality = Irish
| birth_date = {{birth date|1890|1|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Castlemahon, County Limerick, Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1970|2|28|1890|1|3|df=y}}
| death_place = Dublin, Ireland
| party = Fianna Fáil
| otherparty = Sinn Féin
| education =
| alma_mater =
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives = {{ubl|Con Colbert (brother)|Michael Colbert (cousin)}}
}}
James Colbert (3 January 1890 – 28 January 1970) was an Irish revolutionary, politician and farmer.
Early life
Born in the townland of Moanleana, Castlemahon, County Limerick, he was the son of Michael Colbert, a farmer, and Honora McDermott.{{Cite web|url=https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/0497a56091664|title=General Registrar's Office|last=|first=|date=|website=IrishGenealogy.ie|publisher=|access-date=1 April 2017}} An older brother Con Colbert, was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising.
His family later moved to the village of Athea. In 1901, his family were living in the townland of Templeathea West.{{Cite web|url=http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Limerick/Glenagower/Templeathea_West/1508364/|title=National Archives: Census of Ireland, 1901|website=www.census.nationalarchives.ie|language=en|access-date=2017-04-01}}
Political activity
During the Irish War of Independence, Colbert served as Brigade Quartermaster of West Limerick Brigade, IRA and took part in ambushes and operations against British forces while attached to IRA 'Flying Column' (Active Service Unit).See Colbert's successful application for a military service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934. Available online at Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection - http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced. Reference number MSP34REF39023 Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, Colbert took part in engagements against National forces in County Limerick and County Kerry. He was arrested in September 1922 but escaped escaped from Tintown, the Curragh, County Kildare on 23 April 1923 and remained 'on the run' until 1924. Colbert later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 6 and 11/24 years service in 1941 at Grade C for his service with the Irish Volunteers and the IRA between 1 April 1917 and 30 September 1923. Irish Military Archives, Military Service (1916-1923) Pension Collection, James Colbert, MSP34REF39023. Available online at http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced.
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick constituency at the 1923 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/James-Colbert.D.1923-09-19/|title=James Colbert|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=2 January 2009}} He did not take his seat in the 4th Dáil due to Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD at the June 1927 general election.{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=1347|title=James Colbert|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=2 January 2009}} He was re-elected at the September 1927 and 1932 general elections. He lost his seat at the 1933 general election.
Death
Colbert, who was a resident of Bray, County Wicklow, died on 28 January 1970 in Dublin. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.{{cite news | title = Deaths | newspaper = Irish Independent | location = Dublin | pages = 23 | date = 29 January 1970}}
James Colbert and Michael Colbert, who both represented Fianna Fáil for Limerick at different times, were cousins.{{cite news|title=Brother of 1916 leader dies: Mr. Michael Colbert|newspaper=Irish Press|location=Dublin|pages=5|date=9 October 1956}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Limerick (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colbert, James}}
Category:Members of the 4th Dáil
Category:Members of the 5th Dáil
Category:Members of the 6th Dáil
Category:Members of the 7th Dáil
Category:Politicians from County Limerick