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Menzies, Robert Gordon (1894 - 1978)

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Barrister and Prime Minister of Australia
Born: 20 December 1894  Jeparit, Victoria, Australia.  Died: 15 May 1978  Malvern, Victoria, Australia.
(Sir) Robert Gordon Menzies was Prime Minister of Australia from 1939 to 1941 and from 1949 to 1966. During his time in office he contributed greatly to the expansion of Australia’s scientific community and scientific research. One of his main achievements was the massive expansion of the CSIRO. Menzies was appointed Prime Minister for the second time just after the legislation was passed to change the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) into the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation). He and his government oversaw the CSIRO budget rise from $4.0 million in 1948/49 to nearly $41.0 million in 1965/66. His other contributions include being instrumental in the development and funding of the Australian Academy of Science; the amalgamation of the Canberra University College with the Australian National University; and the partial funding of the Anglo-Australian Telescope in Parkes, New South Wales.

Career Highlights

Chronology
1916Bachelor of Law (LLB) completed at the University of Melbourne
1918Master of Laws(LLM) completed at the University of Melbourne
1918Admitted to the Bar
1928 - 1929Member of the Legislative Council for East Yarra, Victoria
1929King's Councill (KC)
1929 - 1934Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nunawading, Victoria
1934 - 1946Member of the House of Representatives for Kooyong, Victoria
1937Privy Councillor
1939 - 1941Prime Minister of Australia
1941 - 1944Member of the Advisory War Council
1943 - 1949Leader of the Federal Opposition
1949 - 1966Prime Minister of Australia
1950Chief Commander, Legion of Merit (US)
1951Companion of Honour (CH)
1958 - Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1960 - 1962Minister for External Affairs
1963Knight Bachelor (Kt cr)
1965 - Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)

 
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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: McCarthy, G.J & Annette Alafaci
Created: 20 October 1993
Modified: 4 September 2006

Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
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Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P001273b.htm

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