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Sir Robert Gordon Menzies ( 20 December 1894 – 14 May 1978), Australian politician, was the twelfth and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia. He had a rapid rise to power, but his first term as Prime Minister was a failure. He spent eight years in the wilderness before making a successful comeback, and then dominated Australian politics through the 1950s and 1960s.1 Early life
Menzies was born in Jeparit, a small town in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, the son of a storekeeper and state Member of Parliament of Scottish descent. Menzies's uncle and father-in-law were also politicians. He was inordinately proud of his Highland ancestry - his enduring nick-name, Ming, came from "Mingus," the Scots pronunciation of "Menzies," although it was also influenced by the cartoon character Ming the Merciless.
Menzies was educated at private schools in Ballarat and MelbourneAlternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 3,366,542 (census 2001). The city's name is pronounced "MEL-buhn" ( SAMPA: ["m, and studied law at the University of MelbourneThe University of Melbourne located in Melbourne, in Victoria, is the second oldest university in Australia (the University of Sydney is the oldest). The university was established by Hugh Childers in 1853 by an Act of the Victorian Parliament and classes. He was a brilliant student. When he was 19 the First World War broke out. His family decided that his elder brothers would enlist. It was later stated that since the family has made enough of a sacrifice to the war with the enlistment of these brothers, Menzies should stay to finish his studies. This decision would later haunt Menzies's political career.
Menzies graduated in law from Melbourne in 19161916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. Impressionist Monet paints Water Lilies'. January 8 Allied forces withdraw from and was called to the Bar in 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long).. He soon became one of Melbourne's leading lawyers and began to acquire a considerable fortune. In 19201920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. January 9 Britain announces it will build 100,000 homes for war veterans. January 10 Leagu he married Pattie Leckie, the daughter of a federal MP - she was always a moderating influence on him.
2 Rise to power
In 1928Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 See also 1928 in aviation 1928 in film 1928 in literature 1928 in mu, Menzies entered Victorian state politics as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. His candidacy was nearly defeated when a group of ex-servicemen attacked him in the press for not having enlisted, but he weathered this crisis. The following year he shifted to the Legislative Assembly, and was a minister in the conservative Victorian government from 19321932 is the leap year starting on Friday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 3 British arrest and intern Mohandas Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel January 8 In Britain the Archbishop of Canterbury forbids church remarriage of divorcees Jan to 1934.
He entered federal politics in 1934, representing the United Australia Party (UAP) in the upper-class Melbourne electorate of Kooyong. He was immediately appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Industry in the Lyons government, and was soon also deputy leader of the UAP. He was seen as Lyons's natural successor and was accused of wanting to push Lyons out, a charge he denied. In 1939, however, he resigned from the Cabinet in protest at what he saw as the government's inaction. Shortly afterwards, on 7 April 1939, Lyons died.
