John McEwen G.C.M.G. (1900 - 1980)

Born 29 Mar 1900 in Chiltern, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Ann Mills (McLeod) McEwen DBE — married 21 Sep 1921 in Ballavoca, Tongala, Victoria

Died 20 Nov 1980 at age 80 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

John McEwen G.C.M.G. is Notable.

John McEwen, who took over the role of Prime Minister in 1967 after Harold Holt disappeared while swimming in heavy surf, had been leader of the Country Party and Deputy Prime Minister for nine years, was replaced after only 23 days by the Liberal Party's new choice - John Gorton.

McEwen is well known as the architect of a high tariff policy established in the 1950s to protect Australian industry.

John McEwen was born in Chiltern, Victoria on 29 March 1900. He was the son of David McEwen, a pharmacist who had immigrated from Northern Ireland and married Amy Ellen Porter in Wangaratta, Victoria. John was only 18 months old when his mother died; his father died when he was seven. His widowed maternal grandmother then reared him and his younger sister.

John McEwen left school at 13 but continued his education at night school while working as a switchboard operator for a pharmaceutical firm. After passing an examination for the Commonwealth Public Service at 15 he started work in the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor's office.

McEwen enlisted in the 1st Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in August 1918, but the war ended before he set off for service overseas. He was granted a soldier settler block of 35 hectares at Stanhope in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria, where he cleared land and established a dairy farm and later moved into sheep farming. He led a campaign to establish a cooperative dairy factory and became its chairman of directors.

He married Ann McLeod in 1921, who died in 1967, and Mary Byrne in 1968. Neither marriage produced any children.

He was elected as the County Party member for Echuca (later Indi) in 1934, serving until he retired in 1971. He served as Minister for the Interior (1937-39), External Affairs (1940), Air (1940-41), Commerce and Agriculture (1949-56) and Trade and Industry (1958-70). McEwen was Deputy Leader of the Country Party (1941-58) and Leader (1958-71), becoming also Deputy Prime Minister.

He was a caretaker Prime Minister after the death of Harold Holt.

Known as Sir John McEwen GCMG, CH as John McEwen had been awarded the Companion of Honour (CH) in 1969. And then Knighted in 1971 after his retirement from politics, becoming a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG). He passed away in 1980 and is buried in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Springvale, Victoria Australia.

Sources

• Wikipedia entry on John McEwen
• Australian Dictionary of Biography - Sir John McEwen
• National Museum of Australia - John McEwan
• Australian Museum of Democracy (Old Parliament House) - John McEwan
• Grave record for John McEwen (Died: 20 Nov 1980), Billion Graves Record 6670884 Melbourne, Greater Dandenong City, Victoria, Australia