Howard Beale (Australian politician)

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Sir (Oliver) Howard Beale KBE (10 December 1898 – 17 October 1983) was an Australian politician and Ambassador to the United States. He was the father of Liberal Party of Australia politician Julian Beale. Sir Howard's grand daughter Debbie Beale is married to Labor party politician Bill Shorten.

Beale was born in Tamworth, New South Wales and educated at Sydney Boys High School and at the University of Sydney. He became a barrister in 1925 and established his own practice. In 1927 he married Margery Ellen Wood. In 1942 served as a sub-lieutenant on anti-submarine duties with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.^[1]

Beale was elected as the Liberal Party of Australia member for Parramatta in 1946 and became a member of the House Standing Committee on Public Works in 1947. With the election of the Robert Menzies government he became Minister for Information and Minister for Transport in the Menzies Ministry until 17 March 1950, when he became Minister for Supply, a position he retained until his retirement from parliament in February 1958. He was immediately appointed Ambassador to the United States and held that position until 1964.^[1]

Following his retirement, Beale was Regents' Visiting Professor in the University of California in 1966 and Regents' Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967 and 1969. He was president of the Arts Council of Australia from 1965 until 1968. He was survived by his wife, Lady Beale, and his son, Julian.^[1]

[edit] Honours

Beale was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1961.^[1]

[edit] Writings

• Beale, Howard (1977). This inch of time : memoirs of politics and diplomacy. Carlton, Vic: Melbourne University Press, 233. ISBN 0522841279. 

[edit] Notes

Political offices
Preceded by Eddie Ward	Minister for Transport 1949 – 1950	Succeeded by George McLeay
Preceded by Richard Casey	Minister for Supply 1950 – 1958	Succeeded by Athol Townley
Preceded by Eric Harrison	Minister for Defence Production 1956 – 1958
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Frederick Stewart	Member for Division of Parramatta 1946 – 1958	Succeeded by Garfield Barwick
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Percy Spender	Australian Ambassador to the United States 1958 – 1964	Succeeded by ?

Persondata
NAME	Beale, Howard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Beale, Oliver Howard
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Australian politician and diplomat
DATE OF BIRTH	10 December 1898
PLACE OF BIRTH	Tamworth, New South Wales
DATE OF DEATH	17 October 1983
PLACE OF DEATH	Sydney