See also: Menzies government (1939–1941).
Cabinet Name: | First Menzies ministry |
Cabinet Type: | Ministry |
Cabinet Number: | 25th |
Jurisdiction: | Australia |
Flag: | Flag of Australia.svg |
Flag Border: | true |
Date Formed: | 26 April 1939 |
Date Dissolved: | 14 March 1940 |
Government Head: | Robert Menzies |
Governor General: | Lord Gowrie |
Members Number: | 16 |
Political Party: | United Australia |
Legislature Status: | Minority government |
Opposition Party: | Labor |
Opposition Leader: | John Curtin |
Legislature Term: | 15th |
Predecessor: | Page ministry |
Successor: | Second Menzies ministry |
State Head Title: | Monarch |
Government Head Title: | Prime Minister |
The First Menzies ministry (United Australia) was the 25th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The First Menzies ministry succeeded the Page ministry, which dissolved on 26 April 1939 following the election of Menzies as UAP leader after the death of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. However, due to the Country Party withdrawing from the Coalition after relations between caretaker Prime Minister Sir Earle Page and Menzies broke down, the First Menzies ministry was composed solely of UAP ministers, and was effectively a minority government. The ministry was replaced by the Second Menzies ministry on 14 March 1940 after Menzies took the Country Party back into his government - now led by Archie Cameron.[1]
Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the First Menzies ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the Second Menzies ministry, Third Menzies ministry, Fadden ministry, and the Fourth Menzies ministry.