Percy dispenser

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Percy dispenser

Sir Percy Claude Spender , KCVO , KBE , KC (born October 5, 1897 in Sydney , New South Wales , † May 3, 1985 ibid) was an Australian politician and, among other things, foreign minister of the country.

Early life

Spender was born in Sydney in 1897 and attended Sydney University . In 1915 he was drawn to the Commonwealth Public Service . There he was appointed to the Department for New South Wales in 1923 and in 1935 he became Crown Attorney .

Political career

In the federal elections in 1937, Spender got involved in political life in Australia. For the constituency of Warringah , he succeeded in entering the Australian House of Representatives . As an independent, he beat Sir Archdale Parkhill in a battle for a seat. Shortly after his election, he joined the ruling United Australia Party . He kept his seat until he left federal politics in 1951. After the UAP was dissolved, he was a member of the Liberal Party of Australia from 1944 .

He held several ministerial posts in the war government around Robert Menzies . From April to November 1939 he was Minister without Portfolio and assisted the Treasurer of Australia. From January to March 1940 he was Vice President of the Supreme Court. He was treasurer himself until October 1940 and then army minister until Arthur Fadden's government was overthrown in October 1941 . He also worked in the Economic Cabinet (1939–1940), the War Cabinet (1939–1941) and the War Council (1940–1945).

After Menzie's return as Prime Minister in 1949, Spender became Foreign Minister . He held this position from December 19, 1949 to April 26, 1951. In this position he made his greatest contribution to Australian politics. He led the Australian delegation to the Conference of the Commonwealth of Nations in Colombo , Sri Lanka and to the Fifth General Assembly of the United Nations , of which he was Vice-President.

He played a major role in the development of the Colombo Plan , which was originally to be named after him "Donor Plan". He has also made decisive contributions to the ANZUS agreement .

After his retirement from day-to-day politics, Spender succeeded Norman Makin as second Australian Ambassador to the USA (1951-1958). He was the first Australian to serve as a judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague from 1958 to 1964 , of which he was President from 1964 to 1967.

Spender was considered an internationally highly respected politician. He was awarded the Order of Merit by Italy and received ten honorary doctorates. Since he had last fallen out with Prime Minister Menzies, he was denied the greatest honor for him: joining the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council . Spender died in May 1985 at the age of 87 in his hometown.

Individual evidence

personal data
SURNAME Donor, Percy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Donor, Sir Percy Claude (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Australian politician and foreign minister
DATE OF BIRTH October 5, 1897
PLACE OF BIRTH Sydney , New South Wales
DATE OF DEATH May 3, 1985
Place of death Sydney , New South Wales