Biographical entry Hughes, William Morris (1862 - 1952)
- Born
- 25 September 1862
London, United Kingdom - Died
- 28 October 1952
- Occupation
- Politician - State - NSW (MLA or MLC), Politician - Federal, Trade Union - Official and Trade Union - Organiser
Summary
Born in London, England on the 25th September 1862, 'Billy' was the only child of Welsh immigrants. Arriving in Brisbane in 1884, a variety of work eventually saw Hughes settle in Sydney. In 1893 Hughes was appointed an Australian Workers' Union organiser. This was followed with appointments as Secretary of the Wharf Laborers' Union. Hughes founded the Trolley, Draymen & Carters' Union and became its foundation President. In 1900 he also founded and again became President of the Waterside Workers' Federation.
Entering State politics in 1894, Hughes moved to federal politics after federation. Hughes succeeded Fisher as Prime Minister in 1915 and went on to become one of Australia's most controversial leaders, thanks largely to his pro-conscription efforts during the First World War.
Related entries
Union Membership(s)
Archival resources
National Archives of Australia, National Office
- Papers - William Morris 'Billy' Hughes., 1914 - 1954; National Archives of Australia, National Office. Details
National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
- Papers of William Morris Hughes, 1865-1958 (bulk 1930-1949), c. 1875 - 1979, MS 1538; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details
- William Morris Hughes - Papers 1940 May-1952, 1940 - 1952, MS 1001; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details
State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
Published resources
Books
- Farmer Whyte, W., William Morris Hughes: His Life and Times, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1957, 537 pp. Details
Book Sections
- Fitzhardinge, L.F., 'William Morris Hughes', in Serle, Geoffrey and Nairn, Bede (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 9, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1983, pp. 393-400. Details
Edited Books
- Grattan, Michelle (ed.), Australian Prime Ministers, New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd, Australia, 2001, 512 pp. Details
Online Resources
- 'Primary description of person CP 290 - The Rt Hon William Morris Hughes PC, CH, KC', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CP+290. Details
- 'William Morris Hughes', in Australia's Prime Ministers, National Archives of Australia, http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/hughes/. Details
- Prime Ministers of Australia: William Hughes, National Museum of Australia, 2001, http://www.nma.gov.au/education/school_resources/websites_and_interactives/primeministers/william_hughes/. Details
Ross G. Elford
Created: 11 October 2001, Last modified: 5 February 2002