Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Douglas Hyde ( ; 17 January 1860 â `` 12 July 1949 ) , known as An CraoibhÃ n Aoibhinn ( `` The Pleasant Little Branch '' ) , was an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945 .
Simplified: Douglas Hyde ( or Dubhghlas de hÃ de Born January 17 1860 Died July 12 1949 ) was the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945 .