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John McLeay Sr.

The Honourable
Sir John McLeay
KCMG, MM
13th Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
In office
29 August 1956 – 31 October 1966
Preceded by Archie Cameron
Succeeded by Sir William Aston
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Boothby
In office
10 December 1949 – 31 October 1966
Preceded by Thomas Sheehy
Succeeded by John McLeay Jr.
Personal details
Born (1893-11-19)19 November 1893
Port Clinton, South Australia
Died 22 June 1982(1982-06-22) (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
Military service
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Australian Imperial Force
Years of service 1915–1919
Rank Lance Corporal
Unit 13th Australian Field Ambulance
Battles/wars First World War
Awards Military Medal

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 the First World War, 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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