Brookvale Public School
SPACE
Joseph Cook


By Mimi
Early Life


* Joseph Cook was born in Silverdale in Staffordshire, England, on the 7th of December 1860.
* At nine, Cook began work in the Staffordshire mines.
* When he was twelve, his father died in a mining accident, Cook was forced to support his whole family.
* He did not have an education, but he studied for the Methodist Ministry and joined in union affairs.
* On August the 8th 1885, Cook married Mary Turner, immigrated to New South Wales and began work in the Lithgow coal mines.
* He was elected to be the Secretary and President of the Miners' Association.
* In 1888, he led a protest against Chinese immigration, which the miners thought they would make them lose their jobs.
Cook.jpg

Achievements In Parliament

* Cook was elected to the N.S.W Parliament as Labor Member for Hartley in 1891.
* He was elected in 1893 as the Parliamentary Labor Party's leader, which he shortly left to join the Free Trade group of George Reid in the N.S.W Parliament.
* In 1901, he joined in the Commonwealth Parliament, as the member of Parramatta.
* In 1908, Cook became the leader of the Free Trade Party and united with Alfred Deakin to make the Anti-Labor Government.
* In 1913, Cook replaced Deakin as leader of the Liberal Party and became the Prime Minister.
* 1917 - 1920 Cook was Minister of Defence and joined the National Party under William Hughes.
* Cook was knighted in 1918.
* He represented Australia after World War I at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919.
* Cook became Treasurer in 1920 and retired, to work in London as a High Commissioner of Australia.
* He retired to Sydney in 1947, and died on the 30th of July 1947. 

Timeline of his life

1860 - Born in England.
1873 - Father dies.
1885 - Marries Mary Turner and immigrates to Australia.
1913 - Becomes Prime Minister for 1 year.
1917 - Becomes Minister of the Navy.
1918 - Is knighted.
1920 - Becomes Treasurer for 1 year.
1921 - Becomes Australia's High Commissioner in London.
1929 - Retires.
1947 - Dies.

Bibliography

Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopaedia
Internet Sites
http://old.smh.com.au/news/specials/natl/federation/pages/cook.htm
http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/0762.html
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5557/cook.html
http://www.pm.gov.au/yourpm/past_pms/pms/cook.htm
http://www.xrefer.com/entry/170689