Which Australian explorer and politician died at sea off Sierra Leone in 1918, whilst on his way to receive the first peerage granted to an Australian?

gtho4

John Forrest (1843-1918) John Forrest was an explorer and politician. Regarded by proponents of Federation as the chief stumbling block to Western Australia joining the Commonwealth as one of the original States, he was also widely criticised as the person who helped bring Federation about. Born in Bunbury to Scottish parents, John Forrest rose to become Australia's first native-born peer when he was made Baron Forrest in 1918. He began his career in the Surveyor-General's Office in 1863 when he was apprenticed to the assistant surveyor in Bunbury, and it was as an explorer and surveyor that he achieved fame in Western Australia, the eastern colonies of Australia, and in London. In 1901 Forrest resigned as Premier and entered the new Commonwealth Parliament as the member for Swan. He was Postmaster General in 1901, Minister for Defence (1901-03) responsible for sending Commonwealth forces to the last stages of the Boer War, Minister for Home Affairs (1903-04) and Treasurer in five governments between 1905 and 1918. As Treasurer he helped establish the financial arrangements between Commonwealth and States which lasted until 1927. Forrest died in 1918 on board the troopship Marathon off the coast of Sierra Leone while on his way to London for medical treatment. http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/federation/fed/010_fore.htm Mar 13 05, 6:31 AM

shady shaker

I was hoping for a bit more detail! Mar 13 05, 6:34 AM

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