Patrick John Hillery (Irish: Pádraig Seán Ó hIrighile; 2 May 1923 – 12 April 2008) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil TD for County Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973. During this time he served as:
- Minister for Education (1959–1965),
- Minister for Industry & Commerce (1965–1966),
- Minister for Labour (1966–1969) and
- Minister for External Affairs (1969–1973).
He was Ireland's first European Commissioner, serving for three years until he became President in 1976. He never faced an election, because both time he ran for president he was unopposed.