Frank Brennan (politician)

Francis Brennan (1873 – 6 November 1950) was an Australian lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served as Attorney-General in the Scullin Government (1929–1932). He was a member of the House of Representatives for over 35 years (1911–1931, 1934–1949), one of the longest periods of service. His brother Tom Brennan was a United Australia Party senator, a rare instance of family members representing opposing parties.

For the Queensland politician, lawyer and Supreme Court judge, see Frank Brennan (judge).

The Honourable

Frank Brennan
Attorney-General of Australia
In office
22 October 1929 – 6 January 1932
Prime MinisterJames Scullin
Preceded byJohn Latham
Succeeded byJohn Latham
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Batman
In office
15 September 1934 – 31 October 1949
Preceded bySamuel Dennis
Succeeded byAlan Bird
In office
8 February 1911 – 19 December 1931
Preceded byHenry Beard
Succeeded bySamuel Dennis
Personal details
Born1873
Bendigo, Victoria
Died6 November 1950 (aged 76–77)
Melbourne
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
Spouse(s)Cecilia Mary O'Donnell
RelationsTom Brennan (brother)
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
OccupationLawyer

Early life

Brennan was born at Upper Emu Creek near Bendigo, Victoria and was a younger brother of Tom Brennan, later an assistant minister in the conservative Lyons government. He studied law at the University of Melbourne and achieved an LL.B. in 1901. A prominent lay figure in Melbourne Catholicism, he established a legal business specialising in union cases. He joined the Labor Party in 1907 and unsuccessfully contested Bendigo in 1910,[1] but won Batman at a by-election in 1911. In 1913 he married Cecilia Mary O'Donnell.

Politics
Brennan in 1929

Brennan was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1911 Batman by-election.

Following Labor's election win during 1929, Brennan became Attorney-General in the Scullin Ministry, but was not particularly effective in this role. In any event, he lost his seat in the 1931 election as a result of the swing against Labor, which came about because of the Great Depression and the resultant split in the Labor Party. Although Brennan had gone into the election holding Batman with a comfortably safe majority of 25.8 percent, he was defeated by United Australia Party challenger Samuel Dennis on an unheard-of swing (the biggest in Australian electoral history until that time) of 26.6 percent. He recovered Batman in a rematch against Dennis in the 1934 election and held it until his retirement in 1949.

Personal life

Brennan was the father of prominent author Niall Brennan, a biographer of both Archbishop Daniel Mannix[2] and businessman John Wren.[3]

Brennan died of hypertensive vascular disease in Melbourne.[4]

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References
  1. Colin Cleary (1999), Bendigo Labor. The Maintenance of Traditions in a Regional City, Epsom, Victoria, p.47
  2. Niall Brennan (1964) Dr Mannix, Rigby, Adelaide
  3. Niall Brennan (1971), John Wren: Gambler. His Life and Times, Hill of Content, Melbourne
  4. Ryan, Kevin. "Brennan, Francis (Frank) (1873–1950)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Henry Beard		 Member for Batman
1911–1931		 Succeeded by
Samuel Dennis
Preceded by
Samuel Dennis		 Member for Batman
1934–1949		 Succeeded by
Alan Bird
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