Andrew Fisher

Andrew Fisher 1862-1928, Australian statesman. He emigrated from Scotland to Australia in 1885, helped organize the Australian Labour party, and served three times as Labour prime minister of Australia (1908-9, 1910-13, and 1914-15). He guided the passage of much social legislation in the fields of taxation, banking, and land policy. After his last ministry he served as high commissioner in London.

Fisher, Andrew (1862–1928) Australian statesman. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1893–96, 1899–1901) and led the Labor Party (1907–15). He was federal Prime Minister and Treasurer (1908–09, 1910–13, 1914–15). His second government extended social welfare and established the Commonwealth Bank. Wartime stress, and conflict with W. M. HUGHES, led to his resignation, after which he was High Commissioner in London (1916–21).

Fisher, Andrew (b. 29 Aug. 1862, d. 22 Oct. 1928). Prime Minister of Australia 1908–9, 1910–13, 1914–15 Born in Ayrshire (Scotland), in 1879 he was elected district secretary of the Ayrshire Miner's Union, which collapsed after an unsuccessful ten-week strike in 1881. He emigrated to Queensland in 1885, and within months became manager of a new colliery. In 1891, he founded a local branch of the new Labor Party at Gympie, and became its first president. Elected as Gympie's representative in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, he was one of the few within his party to support a federated Australia. Elected to the first federal parliament in 1901, he became a leading member of the federal Labor caucus (faction) with continuing strong links with the grass roots, succeeding Watson as party leader in 1907.

He withdrew his support from Deakin to form his own government, in which he strove towards more power for the Australian federal state, at the expense of both the British Empire and the individual states. In 1910, he was the first Labor prime minister to be voted into office. He established a central bank, invalidity pensions were extended, and maternity allowances were provided. He was less successful in wresting power from the individual states. After narrowly losing the 1913 elections, his support for World War I won him a resounding victory in 1914. He resigned in 1915 due to ill health and his personal opposition to the impending issue of compulsory military service. He became Australian high commissioner in London until 1920, and finally retired to London in 1922.