Personal profile

Born

20 December 1894, Jeparit, Victoria

Education

University of Melbourne (1918)

Employment

• barrister
• politician
• university chancellor

Memberships

• Savage Club, Melbourne
• West Brighton Club
• Freemasons

Marriage

27 September 1920, Kew, Victoria

Children

• Kenneth (1922)
• Ian (1923)
• Heather (1928)

Died

15 May 1978, Melbourne, Victoria

Buried

Cremated, ashes interred in Prime Ministers' Memorial Garden, Melbourne General Cemetery, in June 1996

Honours

• King's Counsel (KC; 1929)
• Privy Councillor (1937)
• US League of Merit (1950)
• Companion of Honour (CH; 1951)
• Knight of the Thistle (KT; 1963)
• Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle (1965)
• Order of the Rising Sun, First Class (1973)
• Knight of the Order of Australia (AK; 1976)

Partner

Name

Pattie Maie Menzies

Previous name

Pattie Maie Leckie

Born

2 March 1899, Alexandria, Victoria

Died

30 August 1995, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Buried

Cremated, ashes interred in Prime Ministers' Memorial Garden, Melbourne General Cemetery, in June 1996

Honours

Dame Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (GBE; 1954)

Political profile

Terms as Prime Minister

• 26 April 1939 to 29 August 1941
• 19 December 1949 to 26 January 1966

Terms as Member of Parliament

• Victorian Legislative Council: 1928-29 (East Yarra)
• Victorian Legislative Assembly: 1929-34 (Nunawading)
• House of Representatives: 23 October 1934 to 26 January 1966 (Kooyong)
• Advisory War Council: 29 October 1940 to 1944
• Leader of the Opposition: September 1943 to December 1949

Portfolios

• Attorney General: 12 October 1934 to 20 March 1939
• Industry: 12 October 1934 to 20 March 1939
• Treasurer: 26 April 1939 to 14 March 1940
• Defence Co-ordination: 13 November 1939 to 7 October 1941
• Trade and Customs: 23 February to 14 March 1940
• Information: 28 October to 13 December 1940
• External Affairs: 4 February 1960 to 22 December 1961
• CSIRO: 22 December 1961 to 16 February 1962

Political memberships

• Nationalist Party
• United Australia Party (1939-44)
  • federal parliamentary leader (1939-41)
• Liberal Party of Australia (1944-78)
  • federal parliamentary leader (1944-66)

After office

• Chancellor, University of Melbourne (1967-72)
• Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (1958)