Fourth Lyons ministry

See also: Lyons government

The Fourth Lyons ministry (United Australia–Country Coalition) was the 23rd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 10th Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons. The Fourth Lyons ministry succeeded the Third Lyons ministry, which dissolved on 29 November 1937 following the federal election that took place in October. The ministry was replaced by the Page ministry on 7 April 1939, following the death of Lyons — the first of three occasions on which a sitting Prime Minister had died in office.^[1]

Fourth Lyons ministry
23rd Ministry of Australia
Group photo of the Fourth Lyons ministry
Date formed	29 November 1937
Date dissolved	7 April 1939
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	Lord Gowrie
Prime Minister	Joseph Lyons
No. of ministers	17
Member party	United Australia–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	John Curtin
History
Election	23 October 1937
Legislature term	15th
Predecessor	Third Lyons ministry
Successor	Page ministry

John McEwen, who died in 1980, was the last surviving member of the Fourth Lyons ministry; McEwen was also the last surviving member of the Page ministry. Robert Menzies was the last surviving UAP minister.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	United Australia	Rt Hon Joseph Lyons CH (1879–1939) MP for Wilmot (1929–1939)		Prime Minister Leader of the United Australia Party
	Country	Rt Hon (Sir) Earle Page (GCMG) (1880–1961) MP for Cowper (1919–1961)		Leader of the Country Party Minister for Commerce Minister for Health (to 7 November 1938)
	United Australia	Rt Hon Robert Menzies KC (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966)		Deputy Leader of the United Australia Party (to 20 March 1939) Attorney-General (to 20 March 1939) Minister for Industry (to 20 March 1939)
	United Australia	Hon Alexander McLachlan (1872–1956) Senator for South Australia (1926–1944)		Postmaster-General (to 7 November 1938) Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 7 November 1938)
	United Australia	Hon Thomas White DFC VD (1888–1957) MP for Balaclava (1929–1951)		Minister for Trade and Customs (to 8 November 1938)
	United Australia	Hon Richard Casey DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for Corio (1931–1940)		Treasurer Minister in charge of Development and Scientific and Industrial Research (to 7 November 1938)
	United Australia	Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC (1862–1952) MP for North Sydney (1922–1949)		Minister for External Affairs Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 7 November 1938) Minister in charge of Territories (to 7 November 1938) Attorney-General (from 20 March 1939) Minister for Industry (from 20 March 1939)
	Country	Hon Harold Thorby (1888–1973) MP for Calare (1931–1940)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Defence (to 7 November 1938) Minister for Works (from 7 November 1938) Minister for Civil Aviation (from 7 November 1938)
	United Australia	Hon Harry Foll (1890–1977) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947)		Minister in charge of War Service Homes (to 7 November 1938) Minister for Repatriation (from 7 November 1938) Minister for Health (from 7 November 1938)
	Country	Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Indi (1937–1949)		Minister for the Interior
	Country	Hon Archie Cameron (1895–1956) MP for Barker (1934–1956)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce (to 7 November 1938) Postmaster-General (from 7 November 1938)
	Country	Hon Victor Thompson (1885–1968) MP for New England (1922–1940)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce
	United Australia	Hon Allan MacDonald (1892–1978) Senator for Western Australia (1935–1947)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce (to 7 November 1938) Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (from 7 November 1938)
	United Australia	Hon George McLeay (1892–1955) Senator for South Australia (1935–1947) (in Ministry from 7 November 1938)		Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 29 November 1937) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 7 November 1938) Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 7 November 1938)
	United Australia	Hon Geoffrey Street MC (1894–1940) MP for Corangamite (1934–1940) (in Ministry from 7 November 1938)		Minister for Defence (from 7 November 1938)
	United Australia	Hon John Perkins (1878–1954) MP for Eden-Monaro (1931–1943) (in Ministry from 7 November 1938)		Minister without portfolio administering external territories (from 7 November 1938 to 8 November 1938) Minister without portfolio assisting the Prime Minister (from 7 November 1938 to 8 November 1938) Minister for Trade and Customs (from 8 November 1938)
	United Australia	Hon Eric Harrison (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956) (in Ministry from 8 November 1938)		Minister without portfolio administering external territories (from 8 November 1938) Minister without portfolio assisting the Prime Minister (from 8 November 1938)