Sir Earle Page

Who is Sir Earle Page?

Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, a former Australian politician was known for his shortest tenure as the Prime Minister of Australia. The Governor-General Lord Gowrie made Page the caretaker Prime Minister after the sudden death of Lyons in 1939. He held office for just 20 days. Robert Menzies took over the leadership after him.

Early life and Education

Earle Page, the 11th Prime Minister of Australia and the second-longest serving federal parliamentarian in the history of Australia was born on 8th August 1880 at Grafton, New South Wales. Page excelled in his studies encouraged by his mother and after schooling he enrolled in medicine in the University of Sydney. His own teacher Alexander MacCormick selected him as his house surgeon at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Very soon he started a private hospital, Clarence House, at South Grafton. He equipped his hospital with all modern facilities. He became the best known surgeon of the time.

Political Career

Later Page turned his mind to politics and successfully contested in the 1919 election from Cowper. He became the newly formed Country Party’s leader in 1921. Page served as Minister for Health from 1949 until 1956 in Menzies government. He was the first to become Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. He also served as the Father of the House of Representatives and Father of the Parliament.

Personal Life

Page met Ethel Esther Blunt, a nurse at Royal Prince Alfred hospital and married her on 18th September 1906. They had five children. After Ethel’s death in 1958, Page married Jean Thomas, his secretary. He suffered from lung cancer and died on 20th December 1961. Truant Surgeon, Page’s autobiography was published in 1963.

The honours bestowed upon him include the following: Privy Councillor (1929) KCMG (1938) Companion of Honour (1942) Foundation Fellow Royal Australian College of Surgeons Honorary Fellow Royal College of Surgeons of England (1942) First Chancellor University of New England (1955–61)

11th Prime Minister of Australia
In office:	7 April– 26 April 1939
Monarch	George VI
Governor General	Lord Gowrie
Preceded by	Joseph Lyons
Succeeded by	Robert Menzies
Member of the Australian Parliament for Cowper
In office:	13 December 1919– 9 December 1961
Preceded by	John Thompson
Succeeded by	Frank McGuren
Personal details
Born	8 August 1880, Grafton, New South Wales, Australia
Died	20 December 1961 (aged 81), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Country Party
Spouse(s)	Ethel Page Jean Page
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Religion	Methodism