Edwin McCarthy

Sir Edwin McCarthy CBE (30 March 1896 – 4 September 1980) was a senior Australian public servant and diplomat. He was a prominent senior trade official, including as head of the Department of Commerce and Agriculture between 1945 and 1950.

Sir Edwin McCarthy CBE
Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Agriculture
In office 21 November 1945 – 26 April 1950
Personal details
Born	Edwin McCarthy (1896-03-30)30 March 1896 Walhalla, Victoria
Died	4 September 1980(1980-09-04) (aged 84) Woden Valley Hospital, Garran, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Resting place	Gungahlin Cemetery
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Mary Graham (m. 1939–1980; his death)
Children	John McCarthy, Melisande McCarthy
Occupation	Public servant

Life and career

McCarthy was born in Walhalla, Victoria on 30 March 1896 to parents Catherine McCarthy (née Kennedy) and Daniel McCarthy.[1]

He joined the Commonwealth Public Service as a messenger in the Postmaster-General's Department in April 1911.[2]

McCarthy married Marjorie Mary Graham on 4 July 1939 in Sydney.[1] The couple had two children: a daughter, and a son, John McCarthy.[3]

From 1945 to 1950, McCarthy was Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Agriculture.[4] His primary expertise was grain commodity matters, and he devised the Australian wheat price stabilisation scheme after World War II.[2]

Between 1958 and 1962, McCarthy was Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands.[5] He was accredited to Belgium also, from 1959.[6]

In 1962, McCarthy was appointed Head of the Australian Permanent Mission to the European Atomic Energy Community in Brussels.[7]

McCarthy died on 4 September 1980 at Woden Valley Hospital, in Garran, Canberra.[1] He had been admitted earlier in the same week after an aneurysm.[8]

Awards

McCarthy was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1952, while serving as Deputy High Commissioner in London.[9] He was made a Knight Bachelor in June 1955, whilst serving in the same role.[10]

References

1. Smith, David I., "McCarthy, Sir Edwin (1896–1980)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 15 April 2015
2. CP 262: Sir Edwin MCCARTHY CBE, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 15 April 2015
3. Wade, Matt (25 July 2009). "Fine art of diplomacy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015.
4. CA 48: Department of Commerce and Agriculture, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 15 April 2015
5. "New Posts For Diplomats". The Canberra Times. 14 October 1958. p. 2.
6. "Sir Edwin McCarthy Retires Today". The Canberra Times. 17 March 1964. p. 2.
7. "McCarthy given new post". The Canberra Times. 25 October 1962. p. 3.
8. "Former senior diplomat dies". The Canberra Times. 5 September 1980. p. 9.
9. "Search Australian Honours: McCARTHY, Edwin, The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 15 April 2015
10. "Search Australian Honours: McCARTHY, Edwin, Knight Bachelor", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 15 April 2015

Government offices
Preceded by Frank Murphy	Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Agriculture 1945 – 1950	Succeeded by John Crawford
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Hugh McClure Smith	Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands 1958 – 1962	Succeeded by Walter Crocker