First Menzies ministry

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]

Dateformed26 April 1939

Datedissolved14 March 1940

Monarch

George VI

Governor-General

Lord Gowrie

Quick facts Date formed, Date dissolved ...

First Menzies ministry
25th Ministry of Australia
Robert Menzies Billy Hughes
Date formed	26 April 1939
Date dissolved	14 March 1940
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	Lord Gowrie
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
No. of ministers	16
Member party	United Australia
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	John Curtin
History
Legislature term	15th
Predecessor	Page ministry
Successor	Second Menzies ministry

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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.