William McCormack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William McCormack
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| 22nd Premier of Queensland | |
| In office 22 October 1925 – 21 May 1929 |
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| Deputy | William Forgan Smith |
| Preceded by | William Gillies |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Edward Moore |
| Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 12 July 1915 – 9 September 1919 |
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| Preceded by | William Drayton Armstrong |
| Succeeded by | William Lennon |
| 27th Treasurer of Queensland | |
| In office 22 October 1925 – 21 May 1929 |
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| Preceded by | William Gillies |
| Succeeded by | Walter Barnes |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Cairns |
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| In office 27 April 1912 – 21 February 1930 |
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| Preceded by | John Mann |
| Succeeded by | John O'Keefe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 April 1879 St Lawrence, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 21 November 1947 (aged 68) Annerley, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery |
| Political party | Labor |
| Occupation | Tin miner, Trade union organiser |
William McCormack (born April 27, 1879, died November 21, 1947) was an important Australian politician. He served as the leader, or Premier, of the state of Queensland from 1925 to 1929. He was a member of the Labor Party.
Early Life and Union Work
William McCormack was born on April 27, 1879, in a place called St Lawrence, Queensland. He was one of six children. His mother was from Ireland, and his father owned a small farm.
William went to a local school. After school, he worked as a prospector, searching for valuable minerals, near Mount Morgan. In 1904, he moved to North Queensland. There, he worked on the Stannary Hills Tramways.
He became good friends with Ted Theodore, who introduced him to the world of trade unions. Trade unions are groups that help workers get fair pay and good working conditions. In 1908, William became the first vice-president of a union called the Amalgamated Workers' Association of North Queensland (AWA).
William led a successful workers' action on the Etheridge railway line. This helped the union grow very quickly. In 1909, he was chosen to be the full-time paid secretary of the AWA. He became a very important union leader in North Queensland. He worked to combine smaller unions into one big union.
In 1911, he led a successful strike for sugar workers. They won better wages and working conditions. William was known for being practical. He later joined the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) in 1913.
Becoming a Politician
William McCormack decided to enter politics. In 1912, he was elected to represent the area of Cairns in the Queensland Legislative Assembly. This is like being a member of parliament for the state. He held this position until he retired from politics in 1930.
After the 1915 state election, William became the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker is like the referee in a debate, making sure rules are followed. He held this job until 1919.
Later, he was appointed as the home secretary in Ted Theodore's government. In 1923, he became the secretary of public lands.
In February 1925, William tried to become the leader of the Labor Party and the Premier. However, William Gillies won that vote. But William Gillies was Premier for only eight months. William McCormack then took over as Premier in October 1925. He led the Labor Party to win the state election in 1926.
Later Life
William McCormack passed away in Brisbane on November 21, 1947. He was buried at the Toowong Cemetery. His funeral procession went from his home to the cemetery.
