William Norton

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William Norton
Tánaiste
In office 18 February 1948 – 13 June 1951
Preceded by	Seán Lemass
Succeeded by	Seán Lemass
In office 2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957
Preceded by	Seán Lemass
Succeeded by	Seán Lemass

Born	1900 Dublin, Ireland
Died	December 4, 1963 (aged 63) Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Labour Party

William Norton (Irish: Liam Ó Neachtain; 1900 – 4 December 1963) was an Irish Labour Party politician, and leader of the party from 1932 to 1960.

Norton was born in Dublin in 1900. He joined the postal service in 1916. By 1920 he was a prominent member in the trade union movement in Ireland. From 1924 to 1948 he served as secretary of the Post Office Workers' Union. He became a TD for Dublin County in 1926. He represented Kildare from 1932 until his death.

In 1932 he became leader of the Labour Party. In the First Inter-Party Government, (1948–1951), Norton became Tánaiste and Minister for Social Welfare. In the Second Inter-Party Government, (1954–1957), Norton served as Tánaiste and Minister for Industry and Commerce.

William Norton died in Dublin in 1963.

Political offices
Preceded by Thomas J. O'Connell	Leader of the Irish Labour Party 1932–1960	Succeeded by Brendan Corish
Preceded by James Ryan	Minister for Social Welfare 1948–1951	Succeeded by James Ryan
Preceded by Seán Lemass	Tánaiste 1948–1951	Succeeded by Seán Lemass
Preceded by Seán Lemass	Minister for Industry & Commerce 1954–1957	Succeeded by Seán Lemass

v • d • e Deputy Prime Ministers of Ireland Tánaistí na hÉireann

Seán T. O'Kelly • Seán Lemass • William Norton • Seán MacEntee • Frank Aiken • Erskine H. Childers • Brendan Corish • George Colley • Michael O'Leary • Ray MacSharry • Dick Spring • Peter Barry • Brian Lenihan • John Wilson • Bertie Ahern • Mary Harney • Michael McDowell • Brian Cowen • Mary Coughlan

Vice-Presidents of the Executive Council	Kevin O'Higgins • Ernest Blythe • Seán T. O'Kelly

v • d • e Leaders of the Labour Party

Thomas Johnson (1922–1927) • Thomas J. O'Connell (1927–1932) • William Norton (1932–1960) • Brendan Corish (1960–1977) • Frank Cluskey (1977–1981) • Michael O'Leary (1981–1982) • Dick Spring (1982–1997) • Ruairi Quinn (1997–2002) • Pat Rabbitte (2002–2007) • Eamon Gilmore (2007–)