Gorton, John Grey (1911-2002)

Australian Liberal politician, prime minister 1968-71. A member of the Senate, he was elected party leader and prime minister following the death of Harold Holt in 1968. He then transferred to the lower house, winning Holt's vacant seat. His prime ministership was marred by conflicts with his colleagues over his style of leadership and lack of consultation, while divisions over the continuing involvement of Australia in the Vietnam War led to a drop in electoral support. In 1971, following the resignation of his defence minister, Malcolm Fraser, a party vote of confidence resulted in a tied ballot and Gorton resigned rather than use his casting vote to stay in power.

Gorton was born in Melbourne and educated at Oxford University, England. During World War II he was an air force pilot, receiving severe facial injuries when shot down. He was elected to the Senate in 1949. He held various government posts, including minister for the navy 1958-63 and the first minister for education and science 1966-68. After his resignation from the prime ministership, he held the defence portfolio under McMahon until he was dismissed for his publication of a newspaper series I Did It My Way. He resigned from the Liberal Party in 1975 and stood unsuccessfully for the Senate as an independent. He was knighted in 1977.