Ernest Henry Burgmann
Encyclopedia
Ernest Henry Burgmann was a prominent Australia
n Anglican
bishop
and social activist. He served as the bishop of Goulburn from 1934, and Canberra and Goulburn from 1950 to 1960.
Although he never joined a political party, Burgmann was active in Australian politics and maintained a strong interest in working-class issues. H. V. Evatt
appointed him to the Australian delegation at the 1948 United Nations
Assembly in Paris
. Burgmann opposed the attempted banning of the Communist Party of Australia
in 1951 and was described by Prime Minister Robert Menzies
in Parliament as a "most meddlesome priest".
Burgmann wrote prolifically throughout his life, mainly essays and booklets on social justice and reform, together with interpretations of biblical
scripture. Burgmann College
, established in 1971 and affiliated with the Australian National University
, and Burgmann Anglican School in Canberra are named after him. He was the grandfather of Australian Labor Party
politician, Meredith Burgmann
and academic Verity Burgmann
and great grandfather of comedian Charles Firth and politician Verity Firth
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and social activist. He served as the bishop of Goulburn from 1934, and Canberra and Goulburn from 1950 to 1960.
Although he never joined a political party, Burgmann was active in Australian politics and maintained a strong interest in working-class issues. H. V. Evatt
H. V. Evatt
Herbert Vere Evatt, QC KStJ , was an Australian jurist, politician and writer. He was President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1948–49 and helped draft the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
appointed him to the Australian delegation at the 1948 United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Assembly in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Burgmann opposed the attempted banning of the Communist Party of Australia
Communist Party of Australia
The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted...
in 1951 and was described by Prime Minister Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
in Parliament as a "most meddlesome priest".
Burgmann wrote prolifically throughout his life, mainly essays and booklets on social justice and reform, together with interpretations of biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
scripture. Burgmann College
Burgmann College
Burgmann College is a residential college affiliated with the Australian National University in Canberra. Established in 1971, it is the only Australian college to combine undergraduate accommodation with a substantial postgraduate student body. It houses 351 students, roughly one-third of whom are...
, established in 1971 and affiliated with the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, and Burgmann Anglican School in Canberra are named after him. He was the grandfather of Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
politician, Meredith Burgmann
Meredith Burgmann
Meredith Anne Burgmann is an Australian politician and Australian Labor Party member and a former President of the New South Wales Legislative Council.-Early years:...
and academic Verity Burgmann
Verity Burgmann
Verity Burgmann is Professor of Political Science at the University of Melbourne.Burgmann was born in Sydney, Australia, the daughter of Victor Burgmann and Lorna Bradbury. In 1971 she ran away from home to attend the London School of Economics, where she completed a B.Sc with a major in politics...
and great grandfather of comedian Charles Firth and politician Verity Firth
Verity Firth
Verity Helen Firth is the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Education Foundation in Australia and a former politician....
.