William McMahon
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The Right Honourable Sir William McMahon GCMG, CH |
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20th Prime Minister of Australia Elections: 1972 |
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In office 10 March 1971 – 5 December 1972 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor-General | Sir Paul Hasluck |
| Deputy | Doug Anthony |
| Preceded by | John Gorton |
| Succeeded by | Gough Whitlam |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
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In office 5 December 1972 – 20 December 1972 |
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| Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
| Deputy | Billy Snedden |
| Preceded by | Gough Whitlam |
| Succeeded by | Billy Snedden |
| Leader of the Liberal Party | |
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In office 22 March 1971 – 20 December 1972 |
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| Deputy |
John Gorton Billy Snedden |
| Preceded by | John Gorton |
| Succeeded by | Billy Snedden |
| Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party | |
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In office 26 January 1966 – 10 March 1971 |
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| Leader |
Harold Holt John Gorton |
| Preceded by | Harold Holt |
| Succeeded by | John Gorton |
| Father of the Parliament | |
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In office 1 July 1981 – 4 January 1982 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Justin O'Byrne |
| Succeeded by |
Malcolm Fraser, James Killen, and Billy Snedden |
| Father of the House of Representatives | |
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In office 11 November 1977 – 4 January 1982 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Kim Beazley Sr. |
| Succeeded by |
Malcolm Fraser, James Killen, and Billy Snedden |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
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In office 12 November 1969 – 22 March 1971 |
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| Prime Minister |
John Gorton Sir William McMahon |
| Preceded by | Gordon Freeth |
| Succeeded by | Les Bury |
| Treasurer of Australia | |
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In office 26 January 1966 – 25 October 1969 |
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| Prime Minister |
Harold Holt John McEwen John Gorton |
| Preceded by | Harold Holt |
| Succeeded by | Les Bury |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | |
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In office 10 June 1964 – 26 January 1966 |
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| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | Bill Spooner |
| Succeeded by | Alan Hulme |
| Minister for Labour and National Service | |
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In office 10 December 1958 – 26 January 1966 |
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| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | Athol Townley |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Robertson |
| Minister for Commerce and Agriculture | |
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In office 11 January 1956 – 10 December 1958 |
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| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | John McEwen |
| Succeeded by | Charles Adermann |
| Minister for Social Services | |
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In office 9 July 1954 – 28 February 1956 |
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| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | Athol Townley |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Robertson |
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Minister for the Navy Minister for the Air Force |
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In office 17 July 1951 – 9 July 1954 |
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| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | Philip McBride |
| Succeeded by |
Josiah Francis (Navy) Athol Townley (Air Force) |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Lowe | |
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In office 10 December 1949 – 13 March 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Michael Maher |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 February 1908 Redfern, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 31 March 1988 (aged 80) Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Sonia Hopkins, Lady McMahon (m. 1965–1988; his death) |
| Children | 3; including Julian |
| Parents | William McMahon, Sr. Mary Ann Walder |
| Education |
Sydney Grammar School University of Sydney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1939–45 |
| Rank |
 Major
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| Unit | 6th Division (did not serve) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Sir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH PC (23 February 1908 – 31 March 1988), was an Australian politician who was the Leader of the Liberal Party and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia from 10 March 1971 to 5 December 1972. McMahon was a member of the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Lowe from his election in 1949 until his resignation in 1982. He rose to power at a bad time for the Coalition after over two decades in power, and he led his government to a loss to the Labor Party led by Gough Whitlam. He was the longest continuously serving government minister in Australian history - serving 21 years and 6 months - and held the longest tenure as Prime Minister without leading his party to victory at an election, being Prime Minister for 1 year and 270 days.
McMahon was born in Sydney, Australia, to an Australian mother and an Irish-Australian father, and was one of four children. When his mother died in 1917, when he was 9, McMahon was brought up by relatives and guardians, the most prominent among them his maternal uncle, who became Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1932. McMahon's father died when he was 18. McMahon was educated at Abbotsholme College, Killara, and at Sydney Grammar School and attended the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and returned to study economics, a factor that made him an apt Treasurer, but was a factor in the downfall of his premiership. While at university, McMahon competed in boxing and took interest in theatre, music and art.
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