Ben Chifley

Australian politician, 16th Prime Minister of Australia (1945 to 1949)

Joseph Benedict Chifley (22 September 1885 – 13 June 1951) was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He won the leadership after the death of John Curtin in 1945. His government tried to take over of all Australia's banks. This was not popular and the High Court said that it would not be allowed. Opposition leader Robert Menzies said that Chifley and the Labor Party were not strict against Communism. This is one of the main reasons why Chifley lost the 1949 election. He died soon after losing the 1951 election to Menzies.

Rt Hon Ben Chifley
16th Prime Minister of Australia
In office
13 July 1945 – 19 December 1949
Preceded byFrank Forde
Succeeded byRobert Menzies
ConstituencyMacquarie (New South Wales)
Personal details
Born(1885-09-22)22 September 1885
Bathurst, New South Wales
Died13 June 1951(1951-06-13) (aged 65)
Political partyLabor
Prime Ministers of Australia
Barton | Deakin | Watson | Reid | Fisher | Cook | Hughes | Bruce | Scullin | Lyons | Page | Menzies | Fadden | Curtin | Forde | Chifley | Holt | McEwen | Gorton | McMahon | Whitlam | Fraser | Hawke | Keating | Howard | Rudd | Gillard | Abbott | Turnbull | Morrison | Albanese