| John Leydon | |
| Birth Date: | 17 January 1895 |
John Leydon (17 January 1895 – 2 August 1979)[1] was an Irish civil servant, who served in a number of significant roles in ministerial departments and was involved in the setting up and development of a number of semi-state organisations such as Irish Shipping (first chairman), Aer Rianta (served as director and chairman), Aer Lingus[2] (served as chairman), and the Institute of Public Administration (which he served as its first president).[1]
Leydon was educated at St. Mel's College, Longford, before going to Maynooth College as a seminarian, he did not pursue the priesthood, and instead joined the British civil service in 1915. A devout Catholic, he was a member of the Legion of Mary, whose founder Frank Duff, was a close friend and best man at Leydon's wedding.[3]
He was awarded by the Vatican the title Knight Commander with star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great in 1948.[4] Leydon was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Dublin in 1961.[1]
Leydon died on 2 August 1979, aged 84. He is buried in Dean's Grange Cemetery Dublin.[1]