William McMahon GCMG (1908 - 1988)

Born 23 Feb 1908 in Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Sonia Rachel (Hopkins) McMahon — married 11 Dec 1965 in St Mark's Church of England, Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia

Died 31 Mar 1988 at age 80 in Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

William McMahon GCMG is Notable.

William McMahon was 63 when he became Prime Minister of Australia. He stayed in office for 21 months, during which time he announced the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam. His Liberal-Country Party coalition government - in power non-stop for 23 years - was defeated in the 1972 general election.

William (Billy) McMahon was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 23 February 1908.^[1] He was the first of three children of W D McMahon, a solicitor, and Mary Ellen Walder. His mother died when he was four and his uncle, Samuel Walder, who was at one time Lord Mayor of Sydney, then raised him.

McMahon was educated at Abbotsholme and Sydney Grammar Schools, followed by the University of Sydney from which he graduated in economics and law. He practised as a solicitor with the legal firm Allen, Allen and Hemsley until he enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1939. He served in the Army throughout the Second World War, rising to the rank of major before his discharge in 1945.

He married Sonia Hopkins (1932-2010) in 1965,^[2] and they had three children.

William McMahon was elected to federal parliament as the Liberal member the Sydney electorate of Lowe in 1949, which he held until January 1982. He served in many portfolios under the governments of Robert Menzies, Harold Holt. andJohn Gorton, including those responsible for the Navy (1961-4), Social Services (1954-6), Primary Industry (1956-8), Labour and National Service (1958-66), Treasurer (1966-9) , and Foreign Affairs (1969-71).

McMahon was elected deputy leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party when Holt succeeded Menzies as Prime Minister in January 1966. With McEwan refusing to support him as Leader in 1967, Gorton became Leader until McMahon replaced him after McEwan's retirement in 1971.

Sources

1. ↑ NSW BDM birth 7911/1908 registered at Redfern to parents William D and Mary E A
2. ↑ NSW BDM marriage 10939/1965 at Sydney to Sonia Rachel Hopkins

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131664865/william-mcmahon : accessed 12 February 2022), memorial page for Sir William “Billy” McMahon (23 Feb 1908–31 Mar 1988), Find a Grave Memorial ID 131664865, ; Maintained by Arabelle (contributor 48258804) Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend.

See also:

• Wikipedia entry on Sir William McMahon
• Australian Dictionary of Biography - Sir William (Billy) McMahon
• National Museum of Australia - William McMahon
• Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) - Billy McMahon
• National Archives of Australia, WWII Service Record: McMahon, William : Service Number - NX100034 : Date of birth - 23 Feb 1908 : Place of birth - Sydney NSW : Place of enlistment - Sydney NSW : Next of Kin - McMahon, Samuel