Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH (29 March 1900 – 20 November 1980), was an Australian politician and 18th Prime Minister of Australia.
McEwen's stern demeanour earned him the nickname "Black Jack" (Sir Robert Menzies called him "Le Noir").
McEwen was born at Chiltern, Victoria, where his father was a pharmacist. He was educated at state schools and at 15 became a junior public service clerk. He enlisted in the Army immediately upon turning...
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Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH (29 March 1900 – 20 November 1980), was an Australian politician and 18th Prime Minister of Australia.
McEwen's stern demeanour earned him the nickname "Black Jack" (Sir Robert Menzies called him "Le Noir").
McEwen was born at Chiltern, Victoria, where his father was a pharmacist. He was educated at state schools and at 15 became a junior public service clerk. He enlisted in the Army immediately upon turning 18 but the First World War ended while he was still in training. He commenced dairy farming at Stanhope, Victoria, near Shepparton.
McEwen was active in farmer organisations and in the Country Party. In 1934 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the electorate of Echuca, switching to Indi in 1937 and Murray in 1949. Between 1937 and 1941 he was successively Minister for the Interior, Minister for External Affairs and simultaneously Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation. In 1940 when Archie Cameron resigned as Country...
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