30 Facts About Peter Cosgrove

Peter Cosgrove rose to prominence in 1999, when he served as commander of the International Force for East Timor, which oversaw the peacekeeping mission in East Timor during its transition to independence.

Peter Cosgrove is an alumnus of National Defence College, India.

Peter Cosgrove was Australia's Chief of Army from 2000 to 2002 and Chief of the Defence Force from 2002 to 2005, receiving corresponding promotions to lieutenant general and general.

Peter Cosgrove retired from active service following the end of his term as Chief of the Defence Force, and subsequently served as leader of a taskforce helping to rebuild communities in Queensland after Cyclone Larry in 2006.

In January 2014, Peter Cosgrove was named to succeed Dame Quentin Bryce as Governor-General of Australia.

Peter Cosgrove was sworn in on 28 March 2014 and made a Knight of the Order of Australia on the same date.

Peter Cosgrove retired on 1 July 2019 and was succeeded by General David Hurley.

Peter Cosgrove was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 28 July 1947.

Peter Cosgrove was educated at Waverley College in Sydney, then followed his father, a warrant officer, into the Australian Army by attending the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1965.

Peter Cosgrove's uncle, Bill Peter Cosgrove, was a professional Australian rules football player, but was killed in action while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.

Cosgrove class of 1964 spent time in Waverley College's Cadet Unit, as a cadet he was Adjutant CUO P Cosgrove and tied for the Major General JA Chapman Cane for the most efficient cadet in the Unit.

Peter Cosgrove was appointed a probationary second lieutenant in August 1968 while attached to a regular army unit, and was commissioned a lieutenant on 11 December 1968.

Peter Cosgrove arrived in South Vietnam on 3 August 1969 and was posted to 9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment on 20 August 1969.

On 10 October 1969, Lieutenant Peter Cosgrove was commanding 5 Platoon, B Company.

Lieutenant Peter Cosgrove silently deployed his own platoon for an attack.

Peter Cosgrove was awarded the Military Cross for these actions.

Peter Cosgrove was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 21 September 1970, and was appointed an aide-de-camp to the then-Governor-General Paul Hasluck on 20 December 1971.

Peter Cosgrove was promoted to substantive captain on 31 October 1974, to temporary major on 2 January 1976 and to substantive major on 11 December 1978.

Peter Cosgrove came to national fame in 1999 when, as a major general, he led the international forces in a peacekeeping mission to East Timor.

Peter Cosgrove returned to Australia in 2000 as Land Commander Australia, was promoted to lieutenant general in July and appointed Chief of the Army and, in 2002, was advanced to general as Chief of the Defence Force.

However, Peter Cosgrove expressed strong support for the Police Commissioner in his Australian best selling autobiography, My Story, published in 2006.

On 23 March 2006, Peter Cosgrove was selected to lead the Queensland Government taskforce of rebuilding communities damaged by Cyclone Larry, a Category 5 tropical cyclone that devastated the Innisfail region of northern Queensland.

Peter Cosgrove served on the board of Australia's main airline Qantas between July 2005 and January 2014 and is on numerous other boards as chairman or member.

Peter Cosgrove served as Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University between November 2010 and January 2014; and is Honorary Patron of the ACT Veterans Rugby Club and the Rosies Youth Mission.

Peter Cosgrove was appointed as Patron to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association in 2015.

On 12 August 2019, during a post appointment call upon the Queen, Peter Cosgrove was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

Peter Cosgrove married Lynne Payne in 1976; they have three sons and four grandchildren, and lived in Sydney before taking up residence in Government House, Canberra.

Peter Cosgrove is a Roman Catholic and frequently attends Mass in the St Christopher's Cathedral parish in Canberra.

Peter Cosgrove is a strong supporter and member of the Sydney Roosters.

Peter Cosgrove is a keen follower of cricket and rugby union.