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Robert Menzies (1894-1978)Australian prime minister. Born on 20 December 1894, in Jeparit, Victoria, he graduated in law from Melbourne University and became a successful barrister. Appointed a King's Counsel in 1929, he went into politics and became a Nationalist member of the state parliament of Victoria. After a stint as state attorney-general, he went into national politics in 1934 as a member of the United Australia party, becoming its deputy leader a year later. After the sudden death of the leader, he became prime minister four weeks after having resigned in March 1939 because of dissatisfaction with the leadership. Menzies devoted his energies to preparing for war, which he thought was inevitable, but divisions in the government meant that he lost the 1941 election. He bounced back in 1944, forming the Liberal party to represent the middle classes. Menzies led the Liberals to victory in 1949, and commanded the political centre ground until 1966. His authority was increased by his fierce anti-Communism and pro-British stance. He supported the United States in South-east Asia, sending Australian troops to fight the Communists in Korea and Vietnam. The postwar economic boom allowed him to enact many of the social welfare ideas of his Labour party opponents while remaining an advocate of the free market. Having served a total of 16 years in office – the longest-serving Australian prime minister – Menzies was knighted in 1963. He increased state involvement in University education and, after his retirement in 1967, was made chancellor of Melbourne university. He died on 15 May 1978. |
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