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14 Facts About Davis McCaughey

1.

John Davis McCaughey was an Irish-born Australian academic theologian, Christian minister, university administrator and the 23rd Governor of Victoria from 1986 to 1992.

2.

Davis McCaughey was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1941 and during the next decade he worked for the British Council of Churches.

3.

In 1953 the Davis McCaughey family emigrated to Australia for him to become the Professor of New Testament Studies for the theological hall at Ormond College, University of Melbourne.

4.

Davis McCaughey was Master of Ormond from 1957 to 1979.

5.

Davis McCaughey served as Deputy Chancellor of the University of Melbourne in 1978 and 1979.

6.

Davis McCaughey was involved in the foundation of La Trobe University in the mid-1960s.

7.

Davis McCaughey was a key architect in the formation of the Uniting Church in Australia, which brought together many congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Congregational Union of Australia.

8.

Davis McCaughey was the primary author behind the Basis of Union, the foundational theological document which led to the formation of the new denomination, and the president of the first assembly of the Uniting Church from 1977 to 1979.

9.

In 1986, Davis McCaughey was appointed as Governor of Victoria by the premier, John Cain, and served until 1992.

10.

Davis McCaughey was not an Australian citizen at the time his appointment was announced in December 1985.

11.

Davis McCaughey took up Australian citizenship in January 1986, prior to the start of his term as governor the following month.

12.

Davis McCaughey opened Government House, Melbourne, to the public, exchanged the Rolls-Royce car for an Australian-made vehicle, flew business class instead of first class and dispensed with military aides de camp.

13.

Davis McCaughey married Jean in 1940, the year of his ordination as a minister.

14.

Davis McCaughey was a very early contributor to the new television medium in Australia.