14 Facts About Fred Whitlam

Harry Frederick Ernest "Fred" Whitlam was Australia's Crown Solicitor from 1936 to 1949, and a pioneer of international human rights law in Australia.

Fred Whitlam was the father of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, and had a great influence on his son's values and interests.

Fred Whitlam studied at the University of Melbourne, graduating in law in 1914.

In 1918 Fred Whitlam transferred to the Sydney office of the Crown Solicitor's office, and in 1920 he was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Australia.

Fred Whitlam became deputy Crown Solicitor in 1921, assistant Crown Solicitor in 1927, and Crown Solicitor in December 1936.

Fred Whitlam briefed W R Dovey, his son's future father-in-law, as counsel assisting the subsequent royal commission.

Fred Whitlam bought one of the first blocks of land offered for public auction in Canberra in the Blandfordia auction that occurred on 12 December 1924.

Fred Whitlam paid $440 for Block 1, Section 2 now known as 70 Empire Circuit and lived there for more than 30 years.

Early biographers of Gough Fred Whitlam were quick to detect his father's influence:.

Fred Whitlam was a pioneer of international human rights law in Australia, and this was the area in which he exercised his most powerful influence over his son Gough Fred Whitlam's career.

Fred Whitlam contributed to drafts of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Fred Whitlam retired as Crown Solicitor in April 1949, but continued to be closely involved in United Nations matters as an adviser to the Department of External Affairs.

Fred Whitlam was an Australian representative at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1950 and 1954.

Fred Whitlam died in Canberra in 1961, by which time his son was Deputy Leader of the Federal Labor Party.