Alexander McLachlan (politician)

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For the Scottish-born Canadian poet, see Alexander McLachlan (poet).

The Honourable
Alexander McLachlan
Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office
29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938
Preceded byGeorge Pearce
Succeeded byGeorge McLeay
Senator for South Australia
In office
24 February 1926 – 30 June 1944
Preceded bySir John Newlands
Succeeded byTheo Nicholls
Personal details
Born(1872-11-02)2 November 1872
Nationalist (1926–31)
UAP
(1931–44)
OccupationBusinessman

Alexander John McLachlan (2 November 1872 – 28 May 1956) was an Australian politician. He served as a Senator for South Australia from 1926 to 1944, representing the Nationalist Party and United Australia Party. He held ministerial office in the Lyons government as Vice-President of the Executive Council (1932–1934), Minister in charge of Development and Scientific and Industrial Research (1932–1937), and

Postmaster-General of Australia
(1934–1938).

Early life

McLachlan was born in

Mount Gambier High School. He was an articled clerk in Mount Gambier and completed the Final Certificate in Law at the University of Adelaide in 1895. He was in partnership with Charles Kingston from 1897 to 1905. In 1898 he married Cecia Antoinette Billiet. He was a director of the Hume Pipe Co. (Aust) Ltd from its foundation in 1920.[1][2]

Political career

William Caldwell Hill

McLachlan ran unsuccessfully for election for the seat of Victoria in 1896 and for Adelaide in 1912 in the South Australian House of Assembly. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Legislative Council in 1905, the Australian House of Representatives seat of Adelaide in 1908[3] and 1910[4] and for the Senate in 1922.[1][5]

In the

Postmaster-General and issued many licences for commercial radio stations.[1]

McLachlan became an outspoken advocate of military preparedness and supported sanctions against

invasion of Ethiopia, antagonising cabinet. He also pressed Lyons over his unwillingness to proclaim the National Health and Pensions Insurance Bill of 1938. On 3 November 1938, McLachlan was questioned in parliament over the letting of a contract by the Postmaster-General's Department to the Hume Pipe Co. Lyons' lukewarm defence caused McLachlan to resign as Postmaster-General the same day. He remained on the backbench until the expiry of his Senate term in June 1944, having failed to get party pre-selection for the 1943 election.[1]

Personal life

McLachlan died in 1956 at the Mercy Hospital,

East Melbourne, childless and having survived his wife who had died in 1941.[1]

Notes

  1. ^
    OCLC 70677943
    . Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  2. ^ Brown, Judith (2004). "McLACHLAN, Alexander John (1872–1956)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ^ Carr, Adam. "House of Representatives: by-elections 1906-1910". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ Carr, Adam. "1910 House of Representatives election: South Australia". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. ^ Carr, Adam. "1922 Senate election: New South Wales". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. ^ Carr, Adam. "1925 Senate election: South Australia". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
Political offices
New title
Minister in charge of Development
and Scientific and Industrial Research

1932–1937 		Abolished
Preceded by Vice-President of the Executive Council
1932–1934 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Postmaster-General

1934–1938 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the United Australia Party in the Senate
1937–1938 		Succeeded by
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