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Gough Whitlam (1916–2014)

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Gough Whitlam, 1967-1974

Gough Whitlam, 1967-1974

National Library of Australia, 65275712

Edward Gough Whitlam (1916-2014) barrister and prime minister

Birth: 11 July 1916 at Kew, Victoria, son of native-born parents Harry Frederick Ernest Whitlam (1884-1961), Commonwealth Solicitor-General, and Martha Ravenshaw, née Maddocks (1890-1958). Marriage: 22 April 1942 at St Michael’s Anglican Church, Vaucluse, New South Wales, to Margaret Elaine Dovey (1919-2012) a social worker, born in Sydne,. They had one daughter and three sons. Death: 21 October 2014 at Elizabeth Bay, Sydney. 

  • Educated at Knox Grammar School, Melbourne, and at Telopea Park School and Grammar School, Canberra. Resided at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney (BA, LLB); graduated Arts 1938.
  • Served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 1941 to 1945: air crew, navigator in Indies and Philippines, flight lieutenant.
  • Graduated law 1946, admitted to NSW and Federal Bars in 1947, Queens Counsel in 1962; member of NSW Bar Council 1949-1953; junior counsel assisting Royal Commission into Liquor Trade 1951-1952.
  • Joined the Australian Labor Party in 1945; member of the party’s federal executive from 1967.
  • Contested the seat of Sutherland in the NSW Legislative Assembly in 1950. Member of the House of Representatives for the seat of Werriwa from 1952 to 1978.
  • Deputy leader of the ALP in the Australian Parliament from 1960 to 1967, leader from 1967 to 1977, Leader of the Opposition 1967-1972. He was Prime Minister of Australia from 1972 until he was dismissed by the governor-general in November 1975. He was also Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1972; member Joint Committee on Constitutional Review 1956-1959 and member of the Parliamentary Labor Party Executive from 1959.
  • Cause of death: heart disease. 

Sources
Who’s Who in Australia 1955-1971; Labor Year Book, 1973.

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Citation details

'Whitlam, Gough (1916–2014)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/whitlam-gough-18730/text44629, accessed 17 November 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Gough Whitlam, 1967-1974

Gough Whitlam, 1967-1974

National Library of Australia, 65275712

Responding to the dismissal announcement
Australian Broadcasting Commission
11 November 1975
Transcript

Life Summary [details]

Alternative Names
  • Whitlam, Edward Gough
Birth

11 July, 1916
Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Death

21 October, 2014 (aged 98)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

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