John McLeay, Sr.
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The Honourable Sir John McLeay KCMG, MM |
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|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Boothby |
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In office 10 December 1949 – 31 October 1966 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Sheehy |
| Succeeded by | John McLeay Jr. |
| 13th Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives | |
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In office 29 August 1956 – 31 October 1966 |
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| Preceded by | Archie Cameron |
| Succeeded by | Sir William Aston |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
19 November 1893 Port Clinton, South Australia |
| Died | 22 June 1982 (aged 88) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party |
Independent (1938–1941) Liberal Party (1949–1966) |
| Spouse(s) | Eileen |
| Relations |
John McLeay Jr. son George McLeay brother |
| Profession | Businessman |
Sir John "Jack" McLeay, KCMG, MM (19 November 1893 – 22 June 1982) was an Australian politician and the longest-serving Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.
McLeay was born in Port Clinton, the son of well to do farmers. After his initial schooling in Port Clinton, McLeay finished his education in Adelaide, attending Unley High School and Muirden College before commencing work for local businesses.
He enlisted soon after the outbreak of World War I, serving as a stretcher-bearer in the Field Ambulance Corps in France, and was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery under fire. Returning to Adelaide after the war, McLeay joined his brother George's importing business and involved himself in local issues.
Elected to the Adelaide suburban Unley Council in 1924, McLeay served as Mayor of Unley from 1935 to 1937, resigning to contest the state Electoral district of Unley as an independent at the 1938 election. He was one of 14 of 39 lower house MPs to be elected as an independent, which as a grouping won 40 percent of the primary vote, more than either of the major parties. Tom Stott was the de facto leader of the independent caucus within parliament. McLeay lost Unley at the 1941 election and later acknowledged that his three years in state parliament was a waste of time as it had become clear to him that he could not accomplish anything as an independent.
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