Timeline of significant dates in the life of John Curtin

Born at Creswick, Victoria, on January 8.
Poor family background. Father worked as policeman, hotel manager.

Left school and worked in various jobs as office assistant and labourer.

Australian colonies became a federation of states known as the Commonwealth of Australia.

Met his local State parliamentary member, Anstey, who was to become his mentor; attended Anstey's Sunday morning study-circle.

Commenced work as an estimates clerk with the Titan Manufacturing Company.

Joined the Victorian Socialist Party. Became involved in "soapboxing" on the Yarra Bank. Once said, "The Yarra Bank was my university."
First writing published in the "Socialist".

Became Secretary of the Victorian Timber Workers' Union.

Stood unsuccessfully for the Victorian seat of Balaclava

New job as organiser for the Australian Workers' Union.

Became Victorian secretary of the Anti-Conscription League.

Arrived in Perth to become the editor of the "Westralian Worker". Wrote many of the articles as well as the editorials.

Married Elsie Needham.

Stood for the Federal seat of Perth. Decisively beaten.

State district president of the Australian Journalists' Association.

Australian delegate to the Sixth International Labor Organisation Conference of the League of Nations.

Stood unsuccessfully for the Federal seat of Fremantle

Won the marginal Federal seat of Fremantle.

Lost the seat of Fremantle.

Freelance writing for various newspapers; sports writer for the "Westralian Worker"; publicity officer for the Perth Trades Hall Council; and chairman of the advisory council preparing WA's case before the Commonwealth Grants Commission.

Regained the seat of Fremantle.

Labor leader James Scullin resigned as leader due to ill health. Curtin elected leader over favourite Frank Forde by one vote.

War declared in September.

Federal election. Curtin campaigned in NSW to capture marginal seats for Labor. Neglected his own seat. For a while it appeared he had lost Fremantle. When asked by agitated friends and journalists what he would do, he replied: "I shall not chase my destiny. If Fremantle, which sent me to the Federal Parliament, rejects me from the Federal Parliament, that will be the end of politics for me." Retained his seat.

Prime Minister Robert Menzies resigned. A W Fadden became Prime Minister.

Fadden's government brought down.

Curtin became Prime Minister.

Curtin's famous New Year article:
"The Australian Government therefore regards the Pacific struggle as primarily one in which the United States and Australia must have the fullest say in the direction of the democracies' fighting plan.
"Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom"

At Curtin's insistence General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Australia as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the South West Pacific.

Curtin became the first Australian Prime Minister to address the people of the United States in a broadcast speech.

Introduction of widows' pensions, maternity allowances, sickness and unemployment benefits.

Curtin government won landslide election victory - Curtin's majority increased from 600 to 20,000 in his Fremantle electorate.

Attended Prime Ministers' Conference in England. Also went to Washington and met with President Roosevelt and US Secretary of State, Cordell Hull.

Coronary occlusion. Curtin hospitalised for two months.

Back at work, but very weak.

Curtin died. Buried in the Karrakatta cemetery. The inscription on his gravestone is:
"His country was his pride
His brother man his cause"