Alexander John Gosse Downer (born 9 September 1951) is an Australian former Liberal politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history. He was also the leader of the parliamentary Opposition for eight months from 1994 to 1995.
Downer was born in Adelaide, South Australia, into one of the state's prominent established political families. His father, Sir Alec Downer, also rea...
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Alexander John Gosse Downer (born 9 September 1951) is an Australian former Liberal politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history. He was also the leader of the parliamentary Opposition for eight months from 1994 to 1995.
Downer was born in Adelaide, South Australia, into one of the state's prominent established political families. His father, Sir Alec Downer, also reached cabinet rank in federal politics, and was then High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1972. His grandfather, Sir John Downer, was twice Premier of South Australia and a Senator in the first federal Parliament in 1901. His mother, Lady Downer (née Mary Gosse), is descended from early immigrants to South Australia. Downer is related via the Gosse family to Edmund Gosse, a famed English literary critic.
Downer was educated at Geelong Grammar School in Australia, then in England (while his father was High Commissioner) at Radley...
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