Personal profile

Born

8 August 1880, Grafton, New South Wales

Education

University of Sydney (1895-1902)

Employment

• surgeon
• officer, Australian Army Medical Corps (1916-17)
• businessman
• politician
• university chancellor

Memberships

• Australia Club, Sydney (1927-61)
• Freemasons
• Chairman, Advisory Council of the New England University College (1938-54)

Marriages

• Ethel Blunt, 18 September 1906, Ashfield, New South Wales
• Jean Thomas, 20 July 1959, St Paul's Cathedral, London, England

Children with Ethel Blunt

• Mary (1909)
• Earle (1911)
• Donald (1912)
• Iven (1914)
• Douglas (1916)

Died

20 December 1961, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney

Buried

Cremated

Honours

• Privy Councillor (1929)
• Knight Commander, Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG; 1938)
• Companion of Honour (CH; 1942)
• Foundation Fellow, Royal Australian College of Surgeons
• Honorary Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of England (1942)

Partner

Name

Ethel Esther Page

Previous name

Ethel Esther Blunt

Born

c.1875

Memberships

• Australian Country Party (1920-58)
• Feminist Club
• Lyceum Club
• Red Cross
• National Council of Women
• New South Wales
• Country Women’s Association

Died

26 May 1958, Grafton, New South Wales

Political profile

Term as Prime Minister

7 to 26 April 1939

Term as Member of Parliament

• House of Representatives: 26 February 1920 to 20 December 1961 (Cowper)
• Advisory War Council:
  • August 1942 to September 1943
  • February 1944 to August 1945

Portfolios

• Treasurer: 9 February 1923 to 22 October 1929
• Commerce: 9 November 1934 to 26 April 1939
• Health: 29 November 1937 to 7 November 1938
• Australian War Cabinet: January to May 1941
• Commerce: 28 October 1940 to 7 October 1941
• Health: 19 December 1949 to 11 January 1956

Political memberships

• Local Government Council, South Grafton (1913-19)
• Farmers and Settlers Association
• New State League (1915-25)
• Australian Country Party (1920-61)
  • federal parliamentary leader (April 1921 to September 1939)

After office

• Chancellor, University on New England (1955-61)