# First Menzies ministry

* This article is part of a series about Robert Menzies
Early life
State politics
Member for Kooyong (1934–1966)
1938 Dalfram dispute
United Australia Party spills
1939
1943
Prime Minister of Australia
First term of government (1939–1941)
Entry into WW2
Advisory War Council
Liberal Party foundation
Second term of government (1949–1966)
ANZUS
Communist Party ban
1951 Communist Party ban referendum
Petrov Affair
Royal Commission on Espionage
Entry into Vietnam War
Ministries
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Eighth
Ninth
Tenth
Elections
1940
1946
1949
1951
1953 (Half-Senate)
1954
1955
1958
1961
1963
1964 (Half-Senate)
The Forgotten People :
vte :
The First Menzies ministry (United Australia) was the 25th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The First Menzies ministry succeeded the Page ministry, which dissolved on 26 April 1939 following the election of Menzies as UAP leader after the death of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. However, due to the Country Party withdrawing from the Coalition after relations between caretaker Prime Minister Sir Earle Page and Menzies broke down, the First Menzies ministry was composed solely of UAP ministers, and was effectively a minority government. The ministry was replaced by the Second Menzies ministry on 14 March 1940 after Menzies took the Country Party back into his government - now led by Archie Cameron.
Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the First Menzies ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the Second Menzies ministry, Third Menzies ministry, Fadden ministry, and the Fourth Menzies ministry.

## Ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| United Australia | Rt Hon Robert Menzies KC (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966) | Prime Minister Leader of the United Australia Party Treasurer Minister for Defence Co-ordination (from 13 November 1939) Minister for Trade and Customs (from 23 February 1940) |
| United Australia | Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC (1862–1952) MP for North Sydney (1922–1949) | Attorney-General Minister for Industry |
| United Australia | Hon Geoffrey Street MC (1894–1940) MP for Corangamite (1934–1940) | Minister for Defence (to 13 November 1939) Minister for the Army (from 13 November 1939) |
| United Australia | Hon Richard Casey DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for Corio (1931–1940) | Minister for Supply and Development (to 26 January 1940) |
| United Australia | Hon Sir Henry Gullett KCMG (1878–1940) MP for Henty (1925–1940) | Minister for External Affairs Minister for Information (from 12 September 1939) |
| United Australia | Hon George McLeay (1892–1955) Senator for South Australia (1935–1947) | Minister for Commerce Leader of the Government in the Senate |
| United Australia | Hon John Lawson (1897–1956) MP for Macquarie (1931–1940) | Minister for Trade and Customs (to 23 February 1940) |
| United Australia | Hon Eric Harrison (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956) | Postmaster-General Minister for Repatriation |
| United Australia | Hon James Fairbairn (1897–1940) MP for Flinders (1933–1940) | Minister for Civil Aviation Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 26 January 1940) Minister for Air (from 13 November 1939) |
| United Australia | Hon Sir Frederick Stewart (1884–1961) MP for Parramatta (1931–1946) | Minister for Health Minister for Social Services Minister for the Navy (from 13 November 1939) Minister for Supply and Development (from 26 January 1940) |
| United Australia | Hon Harry Foll (1890–1977) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947) | Minister for the Interior |
| United Australia | Hon Percy Spender KC (1897–1985) MP for Warringah (1937–1951) | Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (to 3 November 1939) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 26 January 1940) |
| United Australia | Hon John Perkins (1878–1954) MP for Eden-Monaro (1931–1943) | Minister without portfolio administering external territories |
| United Australia | Hon Herbert Collett CMG DSO VD (1877–1947) Senator for Western Australia (1933–1947) | Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes |
| United Australia | Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Fawkner (1935–1949) | Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Supply and Development Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs (from 23 February 1940) |
| United Australia | Hon Philip McBride (1892–1982) Senator for South Australia (1937–1944) | Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce |