Hugh Roberton

Hugh Stevenson Roberton (18 December 1900 – 13 March 1987) was an Australian politician. A member of the Country Party, he served as Minister for Social Services in the Menzies government from 1956 to 1965. He later served as Ambassador to Ireland from 1965 to 1967.

This article is about the Australian politician. For the Scottish composer, see Hugh S. Roberton.

The Honourable
Hugh Roberton
Minister for Social Services
In office
28 February 1956 – 21 January 1965
Prime MinisterRobert Menzies
Preceded byWilliam McMahon
Succeeded byReginald Swartz
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Riverina
In office
10 December 1949 – 21 January 1965
Preceded byJoe Langtry
Succeeded byBill Armstrong
Personal details
Born(1900-12-18)18 December 1900
Glasgow, Scotland
Died13 March 1987(1987-03-13) (aged 86)
Canberra, Australia
Political partyCountry
Spouses
Marjorie Wyllie
​
​
(m. 1926⁠–⁠1970)​
    Eileen McLeod
    ​
    (m. 1972)​
    RelationsSir Hugh Roberton (father)
    Children1 daughter
    OccupationFarmer, writer

    Early life

    Roberton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of Sir Hugh S. Roberton, a Scottish composer and founder of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir. He was educated at the West of Scotland Agricultural College and Glasgow University and emigrated to Australia in the 1920s. He became a farmer and grazier at Old Junee and a writer on political and economic subjects, particularly in the rural newspaper the Land under the name, "Peter Snodgrass". During World War II he served as a gunner in the Middle East.[1][2]

    Politics

    Roberton stood for the Country Party at the 1949 election for the House of Representatives seat of Riverina and defeated the Labor member, Joe Langtry. He was a proponent of government intervention to stabilise the price paid to wheat-growers. In February 1956, he was appointed Minister for Social Services in the seventh Menzies Ministry, a position he held until his resignation from parliament in 1965. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Country Party's deputy leadership in 1963, losing to Charles Adermann after the retirement of Charles Davidson.[3]

    Later life

    Roberton was appointed Australia's first ambassador to Ireland in 1965 and served until 1967.

    Roberton died in Canberra in 1987, aged 86.[4] He was survived by his wife, Eileen, and a daughter.[1]

    Notes
    1. Hawke, Bob (17 March 1987). "Death of the Hon. Hugh Stevenson Roberton". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
    2. Sinclair, Ian (17 March 1987). "Death of the Hon. Hugh Stevenson Roberton". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
    3. "Increase in cabinet expected". The Canberra Times. 12 December 1963.
    4. Boadle, Donald (2012). "Roberton, Hugh Stevenson (1900–1987)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 18. Melbourne University Press.
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