John Curtin

John Curtin (January 8 1885 – July 5 1945), Australian politician and 14th Prime Minister of Australia, led Australia through the darkest period of its history: when the Australian mainland came under direct military threat during the Japanese advance in World War II. Many Australians regard him as the country's greatest political leader and greatest Prime Minister.

Labor politician

Curtin moved to Western Australia in 1918 to become editor of the Westralian Worker, the official trade union newspaper. He enjoyed the less pressured life of the west and his political views gradually moderated. He stood for Parliament several times before winning the federal seat of Fremantle in 1928. He expected to be elected to the ministry in the Scullin Labor government in 1929, but disapproval of his drinking kept him on the backbench. He lost his seat in 1931, but won it back in 1934.

Related Topics:
Western Australia - 1918 - Fremantle - 1928 - 1929 - 1931 - 1934

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When Scullin resigned as Labor leader in 1935, Curtin was unexpectedly elected to succeed him. The left wing and trade union group in the Caucus backed him because his rival, Frank Forde, had supported the economic policies of the Scullin government. They also made him promise to give up drinking, which he did. He made little progress against the Lyons government, but after Lyons's death in 1939 Labor's position improved. Curtin fell only a few seats short of winning the 1940 election.

Related Topics:
1935 - Frank Forde - Lyons - 1939 - 1940

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