John Curtin
John Joseph Ambrose Curtin (1885-1945) was the 14th Australian prime minister and he is often argued to be the one of the greatest Prime Ministers. His life was full of hardships, but throughout the ups and downs, John Curtin had still been able to join the Victorian Socialist Party, as well as the ALP (Australian Labour Party) which both led to his most influential and greatest achievement regarded by many- Becoming the Prime Minister of Australia and leading it through World War II.
As a child, John Curtin had minimal education, leaving behind school in an attempt to get a job to supply his family after his dad had fallen ill and had to leave his job. Curtin went through a series of jobs, as well as read about politics in his local library in his spare time. In 1903, John Curtin met Frank Antsey along with Tomm Mann and Frank Hyett at the age of 18 in a public meeting, teaching teenagers about social and political principles. Frank Antsey was a labour candidate and had made speeches that had made a huge influence on John Curtin’s life, changing his views into one of a socialist. A year later, he finally got a permanent job in the Titan Manufacturing company as well as join the Victorian Socialist Party a few years later.
After leaving his job in Titan Manufacturing in 1911, he became the secretary of the Victorian Timber Workers Union, working to help the work conditions for workers. In 1941, World War 1 had started and John Curtin along with the union tried to convince politicians to prevent war. This however ended with john Curtin resigning as Union Secretary and moving to Perth, W.A. working as the editor of the Western Worker newspaper, writing things that oppose liberal’s views who were trying to introduce conscription to Australia, as well as publishing his own views on things he had a close bond to.
John Curtin’s newspaper writings of liberal opposition had become spread around Australia, as well as his views on working conditions...