Personal profile

Born

8 January 1885, Creswick, Victoria

Education

St Ambrose’s Primary, Brunswick, Melbourne

Employment

• clerk
• union organiser
• journalist
• politician

Memberships

• trades unions
• Australian Journalists' Association (c.1917-)
• Workers' Educational Association

Marriage

21 April 1917, West Leederville, Western Australia

Children

• Elsie (1917)
• John (1921)

Died

5 July 1945, The Lodge, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Buried

Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth

Honours

• Privy Councillor (1942)

Partner

Name

Elsie Curtin

Previous name

Elsie Needham

Born

4 October 1890, Ballarat, Victoria

Memberships

• Australian Labor Party
• Labor Women (1917-75)
• Australian Red Cross Society
• Western Australia Labor Women’s Organisation
• Royal Association of Justices
• Women Justices Association

Died

24 June 1975, Cottesloe, Western Australia

Honours

• Justice of the Peace (1955)
• Commander, Order of the British Empire (CBE; 1970)

Political profile

Term as Prime Minister

7 October 1941 to 5 July 1945

Terms as Member of Parliament

• House of Representatives
  • 6 February 1929 to 19 December 1931
  • 23 October 1934 to 5 July 1945 (Fremantle)
• Leader of the Opposition: October 1935 to 7 October 1941
• Advisory War Council: 29 October 1940 to 5 July 1945

Portfolios

• Defence Coordination
  • 7 October 1941 to 14 April 1942
• Defence
  • 14 April 1942 to 5 July 1945

Political membership

• Australian Labor Party (1935-45)
  • federal parliamentary leader (1935 to 1945)