Frank Forde

Francis Michael Forde or shortly Frank Forde ( born July 18, 1890 in Mitchell, Queensland, † January 23, 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) was an Australian politician and July 6, 1945 to July 13, 1945, a stopgap for seven days Prime Minister of Australia.

Forde was the child of Irish immigrants. He attended the Christian Brothers College in Toowoomba. After his education he worked there as a teacher and later as a postmaster and telegrapher. Besides, he trained as an electrical engineer on. He joined the local ALP (Australian Labor Party ) in Rockhampton in 1917 and won a seat on the city council, which he retained for the next 5 years. In 1922 he resigned to run for the federal seat of Capricornia. He won the election and retained this seat for 24 years until 1946. 1931 he became Minister for customs matters under James Scullin and from 1932 a leading member of the Opposition.

From 1940 to 1945 Forde was War Minister and Deputy Prime Minister from 1941 to 1946. In this capacity he was after the death of Prime Minister John Curtin himself Prime Minister for 7 days until the national ALP Ben Chifley elected as the new prime minister. In 1946 he was appointed High Commissioner for Canada. He retained the post until 1953.