Michael Collins (Irish: Mícheál Ó Coileáin) 16 October 1890 – 22 August 1922 was an Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician who was a leading figure in the early-20th century struggle for Irish independence.

During the War of Independence he was Director of Intelligence of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and a government minister of the self-declared Irish Republic.

He was then Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State from January 1922 and commander-in-chief of the National Army from July until his death in an ambush in August 1922, during the Civil War.