biography
| name: |
McMahon, Sir William
|
pronunciation:
[muhkmahn]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1908–88)
|
| biography:
| Australian statesman and prime minister (1971–2), born in Sydney, New South Wales, SE Australia. He studied at the university there, and qualified and practised as a solicitor. After service in World War 2 he became active in the Liberal Party and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1949. He held a variety of posts in the administrations of Sir Robert Menzies, Harold Holt, and John Gorton, until he took over the premiership when Gorton lost a vote of confidence in 1971. The following year the Liberals lost the general election, but he continued to lead his party until 1977, when he was knighted. |
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