George Maxwell (Australian politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Maxwell
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| Member of the Australian Parliament for Fawkner |
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| In office 5 May 1917 – 25 June 1935 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Hannan |
| Succeeded by | Harold Holt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 April 1859 Montrose, Scotland |
| Died | 25 June 1935 (aged 76) Canterbury, Victoria |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Nationalist (1917–29) Australian Party (1929–30) Independent (1930–31) UAP (1931–35) |
| Spouse |
Jean Russell Ross
(m. 1896) |
| Relations | Ulrich Ellis (son-in-law) |
| Occupation | Criminal lawyer |
George Arnot Maxwell (born 30 April 1859 – died 25 June 1935) was an important Australian lawyer and politician. He was known as one of Melbourne's best lawyers, especially in cases about crime. He also served in the House of Representatives, which is part of Australia's parliament. He was a member from 1917 until he passed away in 1935.
Early Life and Education
George Maxwell was born in Montrose, Scotland. His family moved to Australia in 1875. When he first arrived, he worked briefly as a jackaroo, which is a trainee on a sheep or cattle farm.
Later, he finished his high school studies in Melbourne in 1881. He then taught at schools like Caulfield Grammar School. At the same time, he studied arts and law at the University of Melbourne. He was a student at Trinity College from 1884.
George was very active during his university days. In 1884, he helped start the Shakespeare Society at the university. He also won a special award for public speaking called the Sir Wigram Allen Prize for Oratory. In 1889, he became the leader of his college's debating society. These activities helped him prepare for his future career as a lawyer and politician.
Becoming a Lawyer
George Maxwell became a lawyer in Victoria in 1891. He quickly became very successful, focusing on criminal law. This means he worked on cases where people were accused of crimes. In 1926, he was given the special title of King's Counsel (KC). This title is given to experienced lawyers who are highly respected.
Many people thought he was one of the best criminal lawyers. Judge Arthur Dean said he was "the greatest criminal advocate of modern times" in Victoria. Even Robert Menzies, who later became Prime Minister, called him "the greatest criminal advocate I ever heard."
One of his most famous cases was the Gun Alley Murder trial in 1921. His client, Colin Campbell Ross, was found guilty of a crime and later executed. However, many years later, people believed that the wrong person had been convicted in this case.
Political Journey
Before becoming a federal politician, George Maxwell tried to win seats in the Victorian state parliament several times. He ran for different areas like Collingwood, Prahran, and Carlton, but he didn't win.
However, in 1917, he won a seat in the Australian House of Representatives. He represented the area of Fawkner for the Nationalist Party. This seat had previously been held by the Labor Party.
In parliament, George Maxwell was known for following his own beliefs. He didn't like it when political parties only cared about their own groups. In 1929, he voted against his own government on some issues. He was one of six politicians who helped bring down the government at that time. Because of this, the Labor Party did not run a candidate against him in the next election. He later joined a new group called the Australian Party, but then became an Independent politician. In 1931, he joined the United Australia Party.
Personal Life
George Maxwell married Jean Russell Ross in 1896. They had four daughters and one son.
In 1920, George lost sight in one eye. The next year, he lost most of the sight in his other eye. By 1929, he became completely blind. Despite this, he continued his work as a politician.
He passed away at his home in Canterbury, a suburb of Melbourne, on 25 June 1935. After his death, the seat of Fawkner was won by Harold Holt, who later became the Prime Minister of Australia.
See also
- List of Caulfield Grammar School people
