Essington Lewis
Encyclopedia
Essington Lewis, CH (13 January 18812 October 1961) was an Australia
n industrialist.
He was born in Burra, South Australia
, on 13 January 1881. After joining Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) - now BHP Billiton
- in 1904, he rose through the company ranks to become Managing Director in 1926 and Chairman in 1950, a position he held until his death in 1961. For the whole of his period as M.D., he had a close working relationship and personal friendship with Chairman of Directors Harold Gordon Darling (1885 – 1950).
During his travels to Germany
and Japan
in the 1930s, Lewis realised the threat of these countries to Australia. Accordingly, he helped establish the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
and many munitions facilities meaning Australia was better prepared for industrialisation when the war started in 1939. During World War II
he also served as Director-General of Munitions. Lewis supported the establishment of the motor industry in Australia in 1948, being rewarded by being able to purchase the first commercially produced Holden
48/215.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
on 24 September 1943.
Essington Lewis died while riding his horse on his property "Landscape", Tallarook, Victoria
, on 2 October 1961, aged 80.
and the musical I am Work by John O'Donoghue.
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 industrialist.
He was born in Burra, South Australia
Burra, South Australia
Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company mining township that, by 1851, was a set of townships ...
, on 13 January 1881. After joining Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) - now BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
- in 1904, he rose through the company ranks to become Managing Director in 1926 and Chairman in 1950, a position he held until his death in 1961. For the whole of his period as M.D., he had a close working relationship and personal friendship with Chairman of Directors Harold Gordon Darling (1885 – 1950).
During his travels to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in the 1930s, Lewis realised the threat of these countries to Australia. Accordingly, he helped establish the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation was an Australian aircraft manufacturer. The CAC was established in 1936, to provide Australia with the capability to produce military aircraft and engines.-History:...
and many munitions facilities meaning Australia was better prepared for industrialisation when the war started in 1939. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he also served as Director-General of Munitions. Lewis supported the establishment of the motor industry in Australia in 1948, being rewarded by being able to purchase the first commercially produced Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
48/215.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
on 24 September 1943.
Essington Lewis died while riding his horse on his property "Landscape", Tallarook, Victoria
Tallarook, Victoria
Tallarook is a town in Victoria, Australia located on the Hume Highway, north of the state capital, Melbourne. The town is in the Shire of Mitchell Local Government area. At the 2006 census, Tallarook had a population of 258....
, on 2 October 1961, aged 80.
Legacy
Lewis is the subject of the book, The Steelmaster by Geoffrey BlaineyGeoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Norman Blainey AC , is a prominent Australian historian.Blainey was born in Melbourne and raised in a series of Victorian country towns before attending Wesley College and the University of Melbourne. While at university he was editor of Farrago, the newspaper of the University of...
and the musical I am Work by John O'Donoghue.