15 Facts About Gordon Freeth

Sir Gordon Freeth, KBE was an Australian politician and diplomat.

Gordon Freeth served in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1969, including as a minister in the Coalition governments from 1958 to 1969.

Gordon Freeth later served as Ambassador to Japan from 1970 to 1973 and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1977 to 1980.

Gordon Freeth attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School and the Guildford Grammar School in Western Australia, where his father was Headmaster from 1928 to 1949.

Gordon Freeth was awarded a Bachelor of Laws by the University of Western Australia in 1938.

Gordon Freeth was elected as the Liberal member for Forrest in the 1949 election.

Gordon Freeth actually finished third on the primary vote behind Labor incumbent and minister Nelson Lemmon and the Country Party's Arnold Potts, a hero of both World Wars.

Gordon Freeth would hold the seat comfortably for most of the next two decades.

Gordon Freeth was appointed Minister for the Interior and Minister for Works in 1958 and in 1963 he was appointed Minister for Shipping and Transport.

Gordon Freeth was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, replacing Paul Hasluck, in February 1969 when Hasluck became Governor-General.

Gordon Freeth was defeated at the 1969 election by the Australian Labor Party candidate, Frank Kirwan.

Gordon Freeth's defeat at a time when the government of which he was a part was generally secure was attributed in part to his statements about relations with Russia, but to discontent by farmers in his largely rural electorate who were suffering a degree of economic recession at the time.

Gordon Freeth was Ambassador to Japan from 1970 to 1973 and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1977 to 1980.

Gordon Freeth died in Perth in 2001, predeceased by his wife, but survived by his three children.

Gordon Freeth was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1978.