John McPhee (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Cameron McPhee, KCMG
(4 July 1878 – 14 September 1952) was an Australia
n politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
. He was Premier of Tasmania from 15 June 1928 to 15 March 1934.
, Victoria
in 1878, the son of Scottish shopkeeper Donald McPhee and his Victorian-born wife Elizabeth McLaughlin. He was educated in state schools until the age of 14 and then spent some time working on the family farm. He then undertook a printing apprenticeship, and worked at a newspaper in Bairnsdale
, where he learned reporting, compositing and typesetting.
McPhee moved to Hobart
, Tasmania
in 1908, where he ran a business college for a number of years. He also started a stationery and business equipment company (J. C. McPhee Pty Ltd), was co-proprietor of the Huon Times newspaper, and the director of several Tasmanian companies.
, and was supported by temperance interests when he unsuccessfully stood for election to the Tasmanian House of Assembly
at the 1916 election
and a subsequent 1918 by-election
. He was successful at the 1919 election
, and won a seat in the Division of Denison
for the Nationalist Party of Australia
. McPhee was appointed to cabinet as Chief Secretary and Minister for Railways from 22 August 1922, but resigned both posts a year later for business reasons. In October 1923, the Premier Walter Lee
was forced to resign by dissidents from the Nationalist and Country parties, and Joseph Lyons
was asked to form a Labor government by the Governor of Tasmania. McPhee supported the Lyons government in a subsequent no-confidence vote
and, as Opposition Leader
from 29 July 1925, was noted for his co-operative and cordial relationship with Lyons.
Reversing the Nationalist Party's heavy defeat at the 1925 election
, McPhee led the Nationalists to victory in the 1928 election
, by a narrow single seat over Labor. He was sworn in as Premier on 15 June, also taking the portfolios of Treasurer, Minister for Forestry and the Hydro-Electric Department
. The Nationalists won a landslide victory in the 1931 election
, winning 19 out of the 30 seats with a nine seat margin over Labor. Prior to the 1934 election
, McPhee had been suffering recurring heart problems, and decided to stand down as Premier, handing over to Sir Walter Lee
on 15 March and retiring from politics. He was knighted KCMG
in June.
McPhee attempted a political comeback in 1937, unsuccessfully running for the seat of Denison
at the 1937 federal election
. He was more successful in the 1941 state election
, winning a seat in Franklin
, although Labor under Robert Cosgrove
won that election. He retired on 23 November 1946 to concentrate on his business and humanitarian interests, and died in his sleep from cardiovascular disease
in 1952, aged 74.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(4 July 1878 – 14 September 1952) was an Australia
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 politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
. He was Premier of Tasmania from 15 June 1928 to 15 March 1934.
Early life
McPhee was born in Yan YeanYan Yean, Victoria
Yan Yean is a locality in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 38 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik.Yan Yean is home to Yan Yean Reservoir...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1878, the son of Scottish shopkeeper Donald McPhee and his Victorian-born wife Elizabeth McLaughlin. He was educated in state schools until the age of 14 and then spent some time working on the family farm. He then undertook a printing apprenticeship, and worked at a newspaper in Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale, Victoria
Bairnsdale is a small city in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. With a population at the 2006 census of 11,282, it is a major regional centre of eastern Victoria along with Traralgon and Sale....
, where he learned reporting, compositing and typesetting.
McPhee moved to Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1908, where he ran a business college for a number of years. He also started a stationery and business equipment company (J. C. McPhee Pty Ltd), was co-proprietor of the Huon Times newspaper, and the director of several Tasmanian companies.
Political career
McPhee was a strong supporter of the temperance movementTemperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, and was supported by temperance interests when he unsuccessfully stood for election to the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
at the 1916 election
Tasmanian state election, 1916
A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 23 March 1916 .-Background:...
and a subsequent 1918 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
. He was successful at the 1919 election
Tasmanian state election, 1919
A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 31 May 1919.-Background:By the time of the 1919 election, the Liberal Party had regrouped and been renamed as the Nationalist Party...
, and won a seat in the Division of Denison
Division of Denison (state)
The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the...
for the Nationalist Party of Australia
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
. McPhee was appointed to cabinet as Chief Secretary and Minister for Railways from 22 August 1922, but resigned both posts a year later for business reasons. In October 1923, the Premier Walter Lee
Walter Lee (Australian politician)
Sir Walter Henry Lee KCMG was an Australian politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He was Premier of Tasmania on three occasions: from 15 April 1916 to 12 August 1922; from 14 August 1923 to 25 October 1923; and from 15 March 1934 to 22 June 1934.Lee was born in Longford in...
was forced to resign by dissidents from the Nationalist and Country parties, and Joseph Lyons
Joseph Lyons
Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931...
was asked to form a Labor government by the Governor of Tasmania. McPhee supported the Lyons government in a subsequent no-confidence vote
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
and, as Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
The role of Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the government on the floor of parliament...
from 29 July 1925, was noted for his co-operative and cordial relationship with Lyons.
Reversing the Nationalist Party's heavy defeat at the 1925 election
Tasmanian state election, 1925
A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 3 June 1925 .-Background:The ambiguous result of the 1922 election had seen a coalition form between the Nationalist and Country parties, and John Hayes was appointed Premier of Tasmania...
, McPhee led the Nationalists to victory in the 1928 election
Tasmanian state election, 1928
A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 30 May 1928 .-Background:The 1925 election had seen Labor win in a landslide, and the Nationalist Party lose five seats in the House of Assembly...
, by a narrow single seat over Labor. He was sworn in as Premier on 15 June, also taking the portfolios of Treasurer, Minister for Forestry and the Hydro-Electric Department
Hydro Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania, known for most of its history as The HEC, is the government owned enterprise which is the predominant electricity generator in the state of Tasmania, Australia...
. The Nationalists won a landslide victory in the 1931 election
Tasmanian state election, 1931
A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 9 May 1931.-Background:The Nationalist Party had defeated Labor by one seat at the 1928 election, and John McPhee had been Premier of Tasmania since then...
, winning 19 out of the 30 seats with a nine seat margin over Labor. Prior to the 1934 election
Tasmanian state election, 1934
A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 9 June 1934.-Background:The Nationalist Party managed a huge victory in the 1931 election, but Premier of Tasmania John McPhee had resigned due to health problems, and the Nationalists were led into the...
, McPhee had been suffering recurring heart problems, and decided to stand down as Premier, handing over to Sir Walter Lee
Walter Lee (Australian politician)
Sir Walter Henry Lee KCMG was an Australian politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He was Premier of Tasmania on three occasions: from 15 April 1916 to 12 August 1922; from 14 August 1923 to 25 October 1923; and from 15 March 1934 to 22 June 1934.Lee was born in Longford in...
on 15 March and retiring from politics. He was knighted KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in June.
McPhee attempted a political comeback in 1937, unsuccessfully running for the seat of Denison
Division of Denison
The Division of Denison is anAustralian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir William Denison, who was Lt-Governor of Van Diemens Land 1847-55...
at the 1937 federal election
Australian federal election, 1937
Federal elections were held in Australia on 23 October 1937. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
. He was more successful in the 1941 state election
Tasmanian state election, 1941
A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 13 December 1941.-Background:The Australian Labor Party had won the 1937 election with a three-seat majority over the Nationalist Party...
, winning a seat in Franklin
Division of Franklin (state)
The Electoral Division of Franklin is one of the five electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer who was Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1837-43...
, although Labor under Robert Cosgrove
Robert Cosgrove
Sir Robert Cosgrove KCMG was an Australian politician, trade unionist, and twice Premier of Tasmania from 18 December 1939 to 18 December 1947 and 25 February 1948 to 26 August 1958....
won that election. He retired on 23 November 1946 to concentrate on his business and humanitarian interests, and died in his sleep from cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
in 1952, aged 74.