John Bruton

John Bruton
Bruton in 2002
10th Taoiseach
In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997
President	Mary Robinson
Tánaiste	Dick Spring
Preceded by	Albert Reynolds
Succeeded by	Bertie Ahern
European Union Ambassador to the United States
In office 24 November 2004 – 31 October 2009
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Günter Burghardt
Succeeded by	Angelos Pangratis (acting)
Leader of the Opposition
In office 26 June 1997 – 9 February 2001
President	Mary Robinson Mary McAleese
Taoiseach	Bertie Ahern
Preceded by	Bertie Ahern
Succeeded by	Michael Noonan
In office 20 November 1990 – 15 December 1994
President	Patrick Hillery Mary Robinson
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey Albert Reynolds
Preceded by	Alan Dukes
Succeeded by	Bertie Ahern
Leader of Fine Gael
In office 21 November 1990 – 9 February 2001
Deputy	Peter Barry Nora Owen
Preceded by	Alan Dukes
Succeeded by	Michael Noonan
Deputy leader of Fine Gael
In office 26 March 1987 – 20 November 1990
Leader	Alan Dukes
Preceded by	Peter Barry
Succeeded by	Peter Barry
Ministerial offices 1981‍–‍1987 Minister for the Public Service In office 20 January 1987 – 10 March 1987 Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald Preceded by Ruairi Quinn Succeeded by Alan Dukes Minister for Finance In office 14 February 1986 – 10 March 1987 Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald Preceded by Alan Dukes Succeeded by Ray MacSharry In office 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald Preceded by Gene Fitzgerald Succeeded by Ray MacSharry Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism In office 13 December 1983 – 14 February 1986 Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald Preceded by Garret FitzGerald (acting) Succeeded by Michael Noonan Minister for Industry and Energy In office 14 December 1982 – 13 December 1983 Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald Preceded by Albert Reynolds Succeeded by Dick Spring Parliamentary Secretary 1973–1977 Education Industry and Commerce
Teachta Dála
In office June 1969 – 31 October 2004
Constituency	Meath
Personal details
Born	(1947-05-18)18 May 1947 Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland
Died	6 February 2024(2024-02-06) (aged 76) Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Fine Gael
Other political affiliations	European People's Party
Spouse	Finola Gill ​ (m. 1978)​
Children	4
Relatives	Richard Bruton (brother)
Education	Clongowes Wood College
Alma mater	University College Dublin King's Inns
Website	Official website

John Gerard Bruton (18 May 1947 – 6 February 2024) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997 and Leader of Fine Gael from 1990 to 2001. He held cabinet positions between 1981‍ and 1987, including twice as minister for finance. He was Leader of the Opposition from 1990 to 1994 and 1997 to 2001. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Meath from 1969 to 2004.

During his term as Taoiseach, he led a Fine Gael–Labour–Democratic Left coalition, known as the Rainbow Coalition. After stepping down as a TD, he accepted an offer to become European Union Ambassador to the United States, serving from 2004 to 2009.