Douglas Hyde
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Douglas Hyde (born 17 January 1860, died 12 July 1949) was the first President of Ireland, serving between 1938 and 1945. Besides this initial milestone, his election was notable as he was a Protestant. In 1930s Ireland, resentment from the War of Independence was still rife, with anti-British and anti-Protestant sentiment remaining. That Hyde was elected regardless was seen as an important point of progression for Irish society. Hyde was featured on the Irish £50 note until the adoption of the euro in 2002.