William Beckett (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
William James Beckett CBE
(10 June 1870 – 7 May 1965) was an Australian politician.
Born in Prahran
to Irish-born taxi proprietor Samuel Beckett and Scottish-born Margaret Cameron, he attended both state and private schools before becoming a second-hand furniture dealer at Fitzroy
with his brother Henry. On 22 February 1893 he married Alice Maud Street, with whom he had two children. In 1914 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
as Labor
member for Melbourne North
; that year he was also elected to Fitzroy City Council
, where he would serve until 1932 (mayor 1921–22, 1925–26). From July to November 1924 he was a minister without portfolio, and from May 1927 to November 1928 and from December 1929 to June 1931 he was Minister for Forests and Public Health. From around 1930 he lived in St Kilda
. Defeated in 1931, Beckett was re-elected for Melbourne East in 1934, switching to Melbourne in 1940. From 1937 to 1943 he was the Labor Party's leader in the Legislative Council. He held his seat until 1952; in 1953 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Beckett died at St Kilda in 1965 and is buried in St Kilda cemetery.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(10 June 1870 – 7 May 1965) was an Australian politician.
Born in Prahran
Prahran, Victoria
Prahran , also known colloquially as "Pran", is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Prahran had a population of 10,651. It is a part of Melbourne with...
to Irish-born taxi proprietor Samuel Beckett and Scottish-born Margaret Cameron, he attended both state and private schools before becoming a second-hand furniture dealer at Fitzroy
Fitzroy, Victoria
Fitzroy is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra. Its borders are Alexandra Parade , Victoria Parade , Smith Street and Nicholson Street. Fitzroy is Melbourne's...
with his brother Henry. On 22 February 1893 he married Alice Maud Street, with whom he had two children. In 1914 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
as Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member for Melbourne North
Melbourne North Province
Melbourne North Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council until 2006. It was abolished from the 2006 state election in the wake of the Bracks Labor government's reform of the Legislative Council.-Members for Melbourne North Province:...
; that year he was also elected to Fitzroy City Council
City of Fitzroy
The City of Fitzroy was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , making it the smallest municipality by land area in Victoria, and existed from 1858 until 1994....
, where he would serve until 1932 (mayor 1921–22, 1925–26). From July to November 1924 he was a minister without portfolio, and from May 1927 to November 1928 and from December 1929 to June 1931 he was Minister for Forests and Public Health. From around 1930 he lived in St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
. Defeated in 1931, Beckett was re-elected for Melbourne East in 1934, switching to Melbourne in 1940. From 1937 to 1943 he was the Labor Party's leader in the Legislative Council. He held his seat until 1952; in 1953 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Beckett died at St Kilda in 1965 and is buried in St Kilda cemetery.