He was named after his paternal grandfather, Juan Vivion de Valera.
Born in Dublin in 1910, Vivion de Valera was educated at Blackrock College, University College Dublin (MSc, PhD) and King's Inns.
While at UCD, he was auditor of the Literary and Historical Society.
He was called to the Bar in 1937.
After military service during The Emergency, de Valera retired from the army with the rank of Major.
In 1945, he embarked on a political career, being elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North-West.
He served in Dáil Éireann until 1981.
He was a director of The Irish Press from 1932 until 1982 and managing director from 1951 until 1982.
Vivion de Valera died in Bray in 1982.
He was also the uncle of former Ministers and TDs SĂle de Valera and Éamon Ă“ CuĂv.