1916: Thomas Kenneth Whitaker is born in Rostrevor, Co Down on December 8th
Education: Christian Brothers, Drogheda, Co Louth. BA in Maths, Latin and Celtic studies, and MSc Econ, from University of London
1934: Awarded first place in civil service clerical officer exams
1941: Marries Nora Fogarty, with whom he will have six children
1956: Aged 39, he is appointed secretary of the Department of Finance. He assembles a team to research and draft the document Economic Development, a bold new plan for a more open Irish economy
1958: This becomes the First Programme for Economic Expansion and is published under Whitaker’s name as a White Paper
1965: Helps organise a historic meeting between taoiseach Seán Lemass and prime minister of Northern Ireland Terence O’Neill
1969: Becomes governor of the Central Bank
1976: Begins a 20-year term as chancellor of the National University of Ireland
1977: Nominated to Seanad Eireann
1994: Nora Whitaker dies
2001: Voted “Irishman of the 20th Century” by an RTÉ programme
2005: Marries Mary Moore
2008: Mary Whitaker dies
2016: December 8th – Celebrates 100th birthday
2017: January 9th – Death announced