Michael Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader and politician, he held numerous positions in the Irish provisional government of 1918 - 1921. He was responsible for signing the Three Power Treaty of 1921, granting the Republic of Ireland independence from the United Kingdom within the Commonwealth. Collins and de Valera led their respective factions, with the Treatyists the largest faction in the Dail, as such Collins replaced de Valera as Taoiseach in February 1922. Collins' second government was harsh on law and order issue. Collins was assassinated in August 1925 by a radical republican.