19 Facts About Edward Shann

Edward Owen Giblin Shann was an Australian economist and historian.

At a time when Australia's dominant economic philosophy favoured protectionist tariffs, Shann championed a more liberal approach.

Edward Shann is perhaps best remembered for his prediction of the Great Depression based on an analysis of similarities between the economic climate of the late 1880s and that of the late 1920s, for his involvement in the development of the University of Western Australia, and for his numerous works on economics and the defence of free trade.

Edward Shann was born in 1884 in Hobart, Tasmania to Frank and Frances Edward Shann, and was the youngest of four children.

The 1890s in Australia were characterized by a serious economic depression, and the Edward Shann family suffered great financial difficulty during this time.

Nonetheless Edward Shann was able to attend Wesley College and later Queen's College, University of Melbourne thanks to scholarships and the support of his brother Frank.

Edward Shann was a polymath and explored many different fields of study, but specialized in history and political economy.

Edward Shann graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with first class honours in these fields at the top of his class in 1904.

Edward Shann was offered the chair of political science at the University of Peking that same year, which he declined; in 1911 he accepted a position as lecturer in charge of history and economics at the University of Queensland.

Edward Shann held this position for three years, during which time he became active in an economic advisory capacity to the Australian government.

Edward Shann was a classical liberal, and defended free trade and open markets at a time when Australia favoured protectionist trade policy and tariffs.

Edward Shann wrote prolifically on the subject of economics, always advancing a liberal position.

Edward Shann married Alice Eddie in 1911 in Melbourne, and together they had three daughters.

Edward Shann's death was and remains the subject of some controversy.

Edward Shann was found dead on the footpath outside of his first-floor office window at the University of Adelaide, from which he had apparently fallen.

Rather, it suggests that his death was probably accidental: Edward Shann, who had suffered from nervousness throughout his life, often felt faint, and when such an episode was upon him he would tend to rush to fresh air.

Edward Shann had indeed complained of faintness the day of his death and had delivered a lecture sitting down, unusually for him.

Similarly, Keith Hancock wrote in a letter that Edward Shann had told him he had been feeling faint, and related that he would often open a window to get some fresh air and then lose his balance.

In light of them it now seems more likely that Edward Shann had a similar episode, opened his window, and, feeling faint, simply fell out.