First Menzies Ministry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: Menzies Government (1939-41)

First Menzies Ministry
Flag of Australia.svg
25th Ministry of Australia
Date formed26 April 1939
Date dissolved14 March 1940
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge VI
Governor-GeneralLord Gowrie
Prime MinisterRobert Menzies
No. of ministers16
Member partyUnited Australia
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderJohn Curtin
History
Legislature term(s)15th
PredecessorPage Ministry
SuccessorSecond Menzies Ministry
Official Portrait of Robert Menzies by Ivor Hele.jpg This article is part of
a series about
Robert Menzies
  • Early life
  • State politics

Prime Minister of Australia

First Period (1939–1941)

Second Period (1949–1966)

Ministries

Elections

Government of Australia
  • v
  • t

The First Menzies Ministry (United Australia) was the 25th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The First Menzies Ministry succeeded the Page Ministry, which dissolved on 26 April 1939 following the election of Menzies as UAP leader after the death of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. However, due to the Country Party withdrawing from the Coalition after relations between caretaker Prime Minister Sir Earle Page and Menzies broke down, the First Menzies Ministry was composed solely of UAP ministers, and was effectively a minority government. The ministry was replaced by the Second Menzies Ministry on 14 March 1940 after Menzies took the Country Party back into his government - now led by Archie Cameron.[1]

Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the First Menzies Ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the Second Menzies Ministry, Third Menzies Ministry, Fadden Ministry, and the Fourth Menzies Ministry.

Ministry[]

Minister Portrait Portfolio
  Rt Hon Robert Menzies KC
(1894–1978)

MP for Kooyong
(1934–1966)

Robert Menzies in 1939.jpg
  Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC
(1862–1952)

MP for North Sydney
(1922–1949)

Billy Hughes 1939 (cropped).jpg
  Hon Geoffrey Street MC
(1894–1940)

MP for Corangamite
(1934–1940)

Geoffrey Street 1940 (cropped).jpg
  Hon Richard Casey DSO MC
(1890–1976)

MP for Corio
(1931–1940)

Richard Casey 1940.jpg
  Hon Sir Henry Gullett KCMG
(1878–1940)

MP for Henty
(1925–1940)

Henrygullett (cropped).jpg
  Hon George McLeay
(1892–1955)

Senator for South Australia
(1935–1947)

George McLeay.jpg
  Hon John Lawson
(1897–1956)

MP for Macquarie
(1931–1940)

John Norman Lawson.jpg
  • Minister for Trade and Customs (to 23 February 1940)
  Hon Eric Harrison
(1892–1974)

MP for Wentworth
(1931–1956)

Eric John Harrison.jpg
  Hon James Fairbairn
(1897–1940)

MP for Flinders
(1933–1940)

James Fairbairn.png
  Hon Sir Frederick Stewart
(1884–1961)

MP for Parramatta
(1931–1946)

Frederick Stewart.jpg
  Hon Harry Foll
(1890–1977)

Senator for Queensland
(1917–1947)

Harry Foll 1940.jpg
  • Minister for the Interior
  Hon Percy Spender KC
(1897–1985)

MP for Warringah
(1937–1951)

Percy Spender 1930s.png
  Hon John Perkins
(1878–1954)

MP for Eden-Monaro
(1931–1943)

John Arthur Perkins.jpg
  • Minister without portfolio administering external territories
  Hon Herbert Collett CMG DSO VD
(1877–1947)

Senator for Western Australia
(1933–1947)

Herbert Collett 1940 (cropped).jpg
  Hon Harold Holt
(1908–1967)

MP for Fawkner
(1935–1949)

Harold Holt 1930s.png
  Hon Philip McBride
(1892–1982)

Senator for South Australia
(1937–1944)

Philip McBride 1930s.png
  • Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
Retrieved from ""