| The Right Honourable Sir William McMahon GCMG CH |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
| In office 10 March 1971 – 5 December 1972 |
|
| Deputy | Doug Anthony |
| Preceded by | John Gorton |
| Succeeded by | Gough Whitlam |
| Constituency | Lowe (New South Wales) |
|
|
|
| Born | 23 February 1908 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 31 March 1988 (aged 80) |
| Political party | Liberal |
Sir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH (23 February 1908 – 31 March 1988), Australian politician and 20th Prime Minister of Australia, was born in Sydney, New South Wales, where his father was a lawyer. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as The Rt Hon) is an Honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George Prince Regent (later George The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. The Prime Minister of Australia is the Head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. Issues The 1972 Election was largely focused on domestic policy issues and the role of the federal government in resolving these issues Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Douglas Anthony, AC, CH (born 31 December 1929 was an Australian politician Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH (9 September 191119 May 2002 Australian politician was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia. Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC (born 11 July 1916 known as Gough Whitlam (ˈɡɒf goff is an Australian former politician and 21st The Division of Lowe is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George Prince Regent (later George The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) The Prime Minister of Australia is the Head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 He was of Irish ancestry.
He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in law. Sydney Grammar School (colloquially known as Grammar) is an independent, Secular, selective, Day school for boys located in The University of Sydney (informally Sydney Uni or USyd) is the oldest university in Australia He practised in Sydney with "Allen, Allen and Hemsley", the oldest law firm in Australia. In 1940 he joined the Army, but because of a hearing loss he was confined to staff work. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. After World War II he travelled in Europe and completed an economics degree. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Contents |
Politics
McMahon was elected to the House of Representatives for the Sydney seat of Lowe in 1949, one of the flood of new Liberal MPs known as the "forty-niners". The Division of Lowe is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. He was capable and ambitious, and in 1951 Prime Minister Robert Menzies made him Minister for Air and Minister for the Navy. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, KT, AK, CH, QC (20 December 1894 - 15 May 1978 Australian politician was the twelfth person to serve The current Minister for Defence of Australia is Joel Fitzgibbon. The current Minister for Defence of Australia is Joel Fitzgibbon. Over the next 15 years he held the portfolios of Social Services, Commerce and Agriculture and Labour and National Service. The position of Minister for Human Services within Australian Politics is currently held by Joe Ludwig. The current Australian Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry is the Hon Tony Burke. The Australian Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is currently the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard. In 1966, when Harold Holt became Prime Minister, McMahon succeeded him as Treasurer and as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Harold Edward Holt, CH (5 August 1908 17 December 1967 was an Australian politician who became the 17th Prime Minister of Australia in 1966 The Treasurer of Australia is the minister in the Government of Australia and head of the Department of the Treasury, responsible for government expenditure
Despite his steady advance, McMahon remained unpopular with his colleagues. He was highly capable, but seen as too ambitious and a schemer. He had never married, and there were frequent rumours that he was homosexual. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. [1] However, in 1965, aged 57, he married Sonia Rachel Hopkins (born August 1932), by whom he had three children: Melinda, Julian McMahon (the actor and model) and Debra. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Julian Dana William McMahon (born 27 July 1968 is a Golden Globe -nominated Australian actor and former Fashion model, perhaps best known for his portrayal of
When Holt drowned in December 1967, McMahon was assumed to be his automatic successor. Harold Edward Holt, CH (5 August 1908 17 December 1967 was an Australian politician who became the 17th Prime Minister of Australia in 1966 Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. But John McEwen, interim Prime Minister and leader of the Country Party, announced that he and his party would not serve in a government led by McMahon. Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH (29 March 1900 &ndash 20 November 1980 was an Australian politician and 18th Prime Minister of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. McEwen did not state his reasons publicly, but privately he told McMahon he did not trust him. There was also McEwen's personal dislike of McMahon for the reasons suggested in the previous paragraph, but also McEwen, an arch-protectionist, correctly suspected that McMahon favoured policies of free trade and deregulation. For the protectionist Australian political party from the 1880s to 1909 see Protectionist Party Free trade is a system in which the trade of goods and services between or within countries flows unhindered by government-imposed restrictions Deregulation, a term which gained widespread currency in the period 1970-2000 can be seen as a process by which governments remove reduce or simplify Restrictions on Business
McMahon therefore withdrew, and John Gorton won the party room ballot. Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH (9 September 191119 May 2002 Australian politician was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia. McMahon became Foreign Minister and waited for his chance at a comeback. In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for overseeing the international diplomacy section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and He stood as a candidate for the Liberal Party leadership (and therefore Prime Minister, as the Liberal/Country Party coalition held a majority in the House of Representatives) after the 1969 election but was defeated by Gorton. Issues The 1969 election centred heavily on the two leaders John Gorton and Gough Whitlam In January 1971 McEwen retired as Country Party leader and his successor, Doug Anthony, did not continue the veto against McMahon. John Douglas Anthony, AC, CH (born 31 December 1929 was an Australian politician In March 1971 the Defence Minister, Malcolm Fraser, resigned from Cabinet and denounced Gorton, who then called a party meeting. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. John Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH (born 21 May 1930 is an Australian Liberal politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. When the confidence vote in Gorton was tied, he resigned, and McMahon was elected leader.
McMahon found being Prime Minister an unenjoyable experience. The Vietnam War and conscription had become very unpopular. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority He was unable to match the performance of Labor leader, Gough Whitlam, who campaigned on radical new policies such as universal health insurance. Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC (born 11 July 1916 known as Gough Whitlam (ˈɡɒf goff is an Australian former politician and 21st He was undermined by plotting from Gorton's supporters. He attacked Whitlam over his policy of recognising the People's Republic of China, then had to back down when President Nixon announced his visit to China. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The 1972 Nixon visit to China was the first step in formally normalizing relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China.
His reputation for economic management was undermined by high inflation. His voice and appearance came across badly on television, and he was no match in parliamentary debates for Whitlam, a witty and powerful orator. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic The press further weakened McMahon's popularity.
McMahon lost his nerve, and in the December 1972 election campaign he was outperformed by Whitlam and subjected to further humiliation in the press. Issues The 1972 Election was largely focused on domestic policy issues and the role of the federal government in resolving these issues When Whitlam won the election McMahon resigned the Liberal leadership.
He had been a minister continuously for 21 years and 6 months, a record in the Australian Parliament. Only Sir George Pearce and John McEwen had longer overall ministerial service, but their terms were not continuous. Sir George Foster Pearce, KCVO ( 14 January 1870 – 24 June 1952) was an Australian Politician who was instrumental
McMahon served in the Shadow Cabinet under his successor, Billy Snedden, but was dropped after the 1974 election. Sir Billy Mackie Snedden KCMG QC (31 December 1926 27 June 1987 was an Australian politician representing the Liberal Party. Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate In 1977, he was knighted. He stayed in Parliament as a backbencher until his resignation in 1982, by which time he was the longest-serving member of the House. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) The first House of Representatives was elected in March 1901 - the election was held on Friday 29 March in South Australia and Tasmania, and on Saturday
He died of cancer in Sydney in 1988, aged 80. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar)
Honours
William McMahon was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1966, a Companion of Honour in the New Years Day Honours of 1972[2] and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1977[3]. The Prime Minister's Avenue is a collection of busts of the Prime Ministers of Australia, located at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in Ballarat Victoria Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George Prince Regent (later George
See also
References
- ^ e. The McMahon Ministry was the forty-seventh Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 10 March 1971 to 5 December 1972. g. "As a bachelor navy minister he was notorious for co-opting handsome young sailors in tight-fitting bell-bottom trousers to caddy for him at golf". Charlton, Peter. Australia's Prime Ministers in Birth Of Our Nation Special Supplement, The Courier-Mail, 2001; "former senior public servants recall McMahon when PM in the early 1970s would rove the men’s dressing rooms at the old squash courts in Manuka. The Courier-Mail is a daily Newspaper published in Brisbane, Australia. Wearing not a stitch, he was in the habit of approaching other men and virtually demanding they engage in long, often meaningless conversations . . . The only newspaper report was a picture of McMahon with a black eye, which he said occurred in a game when he was hit by an opponent’s racquet. " Wright, Tony. The Dishonorable Member in The Bulletin 9 July 2005. See also: Mitchell, Susan Stand By Your Man, Random House, October 2007 and Lady McMahon's response to Mitchell in The Australian Women's Weekly, November 2007.
- ^ It's an Honour – CH
- ^ It's an Honour – GCMG
External links
- William McMahon – Australia's Prime Ministers / National Archives of Australia
- William Mcmahon at the National Film and Sound Archive
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | McMahon, William |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Prime Minister of Australia |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 23 February 1908 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 31 March 1988 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic