Simplify the following text for a Grade 9 native English-speaking person.
Original: Sir Duncan Ross McLarty ( 17 March 1891 â `` 22 December 1962 ) was the 17th Premier of Western Australia from 1 April 1947 to 23 February 1953 .
Simplified: Sir Duncan Ross McLarty , KBE , MM ( 17 March 1891 -- 22 December 1962 ) was the 17th Premier of Western Australia .