Joseph Lyons

Joseph Aloysius Lyons was born at Stanley in northwestern Tasmania on 15 September 1879.

Joseph Lyons was elected to the House of Representatives as member for Wilmot in 1929. He had been a Tasmanian Labor parliamentarian for 20 years and was twice State Premier (1916–19 and 1923–28). Lyons was in federal parliament for only two years when he became Prime Minister.

Joseph Lyons was Prime Minister for seven years – only a few days short of matching the then record term of WM Hughes. He was the first Australian Prime Minister to die in office.

Lyons was a very successful electoral campaigner, with Enid Lyons a major factor in his winning popularity and appeal. His cautious and orthodox financial management transformed him from a dissident Labor minister to a conservative Prime Minister. His Cabinet also needed careful management. He reshuffled ministries several times and negotiated a coalition with the Country Party after the 1934 election.