Sir Robert Menzies
(1894-1978)
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The Rt Hon Sir Robert Gordon MENZIES, KT, AK, CH, FRS, QC was born in Jeparit, Victoria. Australia's longest serving prime minister, he was a barrister before being elected to the Victorian parliament in 1928. Entering federal parliament in 1934 as a member of the United Australia Party, he became Prime Minister in 1939 but resigned in 1941 because of dissatisfaction with his leadership. In 1945 he formed a new Liberal Party which he led to victory in 1949, remaining Prime Minister until retirement in 1966. |
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| 20 December 1894 | Born at Jeparit, Victoria |
| 1916 | Graduated in Law with First Class Honours |
| 1918 | Admitted to the Victorian Bar and High Court of Australia |
| 27 September 1920 | Married Pattie Maie Leckie |
| 1928-29 | Member Legislative Council of Victoria for East Yarra |
| 1929 | Appointed KC |
| 1929-34 | Member, Legislative Assembly of Victoria for Nunawading |
| 1932-34 | Attorney-General, Minister for Railways, Deputy Premier |
| 1934-66 | Member of the House of Representatives for Kooyong |
| 1934-39 | Federal Attorney-General |
| 1937 | Appointed Privy Councillor |
| 1939 | Resigned from Lyons Ministry |
| 1939 | Sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia |
| 1941 | Resigned Prime Ministership |
| 1942 | "The Forgotten People" broadcast essays |
| 1943-49 | Leader of Federal Opposition |
| 1944 | Convened Canberra Conference which resolved to form a new Liberal Party |
| 1946 | Liberal Party's Federal Platform composed |
| 1949 | Sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia |
| 1951 | Appointed Companion of Honour |
| 1956 | Led Suez mission |
| 1963 | Awarded Order of Knight of the Thistle |
| 1965 | Appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle |
| 1966 | Retired as Prime Minister |
| 1967-72 | Chancellor of the University of Melbourne |
| 1976 | Awarded Knight of the Order of Australia |
| 15 May 1978 | Died at Malvern, Victoria |