Jack Beasley
Minister for Supply and Development | |
|---|---|
| In office 7 October 1941 – 17 October 1942 | |
| Prime Minister | John Curtin |
| Preceded by | George McLeay |
| Succeeded by | (title abolished) |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for West Sydney | |
| In office 17 November 1928 – 14 August 1946 | |
| Preceded by | William Lambert |
| Succeeded by | William O'Connor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 November 1895 Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia |
| Resting place | Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery |
| Political party | Labor |
| Other political affiliations | Lang Labor (1931–36) ALP (Non-Communist) (1940–41) |
| Spouse |
Alma Creighton (m. 1927) |
| Occupation | Unionist |
John Albert Beasley (9 November 1895 – 2 September 1949) was an Australian politician who was a member of the
High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
from 1946 until his death in 1949.
Early life
Beasley was born on 9 November 1895 in
Broken Hill, New South Wales. In 1918, Beasley moved to Sydney and found work at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard. He was employed by the Sydney Municipal Council in 1920, becoming an electrical installation inspector and then supervisor of appliance sales in the electricity department in 1926. On 5 February 1927, he married Alma Matilda Creighton at a Catholic church in Manly. The couple had two sons and two daughters together.[1]
Early political involvement
Beasley became involved in the
International Labour Conference in Switzerland in 1926, and returned to Australia "appalled at the excesses of Italian fascism and disconcerted by the realities of Russian communism".[1]
Federal politics
In 1928 Beasley was elected for the safe Labor seat of
ALP Caucus and became leader of the Lang Labor party in federal Parliament. In December 1931 he led his group across the floor of the House and brought down the Scullin government on a vote of confidence. This earned him the nickname "Stabber Jack" for the rest of his life.[1]
From 1932 to 1936 Beasley led the Lang group in opposition to both the
Non-Communist Labor Party
in federal Parliament.
World War II
In 1941 Curtin again brought Lang's followers (although not Lang himself) back into the Labor Party. When Curtin became
Shipping), a vital portfolio in wartime. Beasley proved to be a highly competent minister and played a leading role in co-ordinating Australia's wartime economy and supporting the Allied forces in the Pacific Theatre. Due to ill health he exchanged positions with Bill Ashley in February 1945 to take the undemanding Vice-President of the Executive Council.[1]
High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
When Curtin died in July 1945, his successor
wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
.
.Darlinghurst
.
References
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
- ^ Royal Collection: Seating plan for the Ball Supper Room http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/royalwedding1947/object.asp?grouping=&exhibs=NONE&object=9000366&row=82&detail=magnify
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jack Beasley (Australian politician).
| International | |
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| People | |
| Other | |
