First Menzies ministry

See also: Menzies government (1939–1941)

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]

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

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.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	United Australia	Rt Hon Robert Menzies KC (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966)		Prime Minister Leader of the United Australia Party Treasurer Minister for Defence Co-ordination (from 13 November 1939) Minister for Trade and Customs (from 23 February 1940)
		Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC (1862–1952) MP for North Sydney (1922–1949)		Attorney-General Minister for Industry
		Hon Geoffrey Street MC (1894–1940) MP for Corangamite (1934–1940)		Minister for Defence (to 13 November 1939) Minister for the Army (from 13 November 1939)
		Hon Richard Casey DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for Corio (1931–1940)		Minister for Supply and Development (to 26 January 1940)
		Hon Sir Henry Gullett KCMG (1878–1940) MP for Henty (1925–1940)		Minister for External Affairs Minister for Information (from 12 September 1939)
		Hon George McLeay (1892–1955) Senator for South Australia (1935–1947)		Minister for Commerce Leader of the Government in the Senate
		Hon John Lawson (1897–1956) MP for Macquarie (1931–1940)		Minister for Trade and Customs (to 23 February 1940)
		Hon Eric Harrison (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956)		Postmaster-General Minister for Repatriation
		Hon James Fairbairn (1897–1940) MP for Flinders (1933–1940)		Minister for Civil Aviation Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 26 January 1940) Minister for Air (from 13 November 1939)
		Hon Sir Frederick Stewart (1884–1961) MP for Parramatta (1931–1946)		Minister for Health Minister for Social Services Minister for the Navy (from 13 November 1939) Minister for Supply and Development (from 26 January 1940)
		Hon Harry Foll (1890–1977) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947)		Minister for the Interior
		Hon Percy Spender KC (1897–1985) MP for Warringah (1937–1951)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (to 3 November 1939) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 26 January 1940)
		Hon John Perkins (1878–1954) MP for Eden-Monaro (1931–1943)		Minister without portfolio administering external territories
		Hon Herbert Collett CMG DSO VD (1877–1947) Senator for Western Australia (1933–1947)		Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes
		Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Fawkner (1935–1949)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Supply and Development Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs (from 23 February 1940)
		Hon Philip McBride (1892–1982) Senator for South Australia (1937–1944)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce