The Hon. William Francis SHEAHAN (1895 - 1975)**

Date of Birth: 03/09/1895 Place of Birth: Tumut, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 27/12/1975 Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 10 May 1941 19 Oct 1973 32yr(s) 5mth(s) 10day(s) Member for Yass 10 May 1941 24 Apr 1944 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 15day(s) 33rd (1941 - 1944) Member for Yass 28 Apr 1944 29 Mar 1947 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 2day(s) 34th (1944 - 1947) Member for Yass 3 Mar 1947 22 May 1950 3yr(s) 2mth(s) 20day(s) 35th (1947 - 1950) Member for Burrinjuck 17 Jun 1950 14 Jan 1953 2yr(s) 6mth(s) 29day(s) 36th (1950 - 1953) Member for Burrinjuck 14 Feb 1953 6 Feb 1956 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 24day(s) 37th (1953 - 1956) Member for Burrinjuck 3 Mar 1956 16 Feb 1959 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 14day(s) 38th (1956 - 1959) Member for Burrinjuck 21 Mar 1959 5 Feb 1962 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 16day(s) 39th (1950 - 1953) Member for Burrinjuck 3 Mar 1962 31 Mar 1965 3yr(s) 29day(s) 40th (1962 - 1965) Member for Burrinjuck 1 May 1965 23 Jan 1968 2yr(s) 8mth(s) 23day(s) 41st (1965 - 1968) Member for Burrinjuck 24 Feb 1968 13 Jan 1971 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 21day(s) 42nd (1968 - 1971) Member for Burrinjuck 13 Feb 1971 19 Oct 1973 2yr(s) 8mth(s) 7day(s) 43rd (1971 - 1973) Secretary for Lands 19 May 1947 30 Jun 1950 3yr(s) 1mth(s) 12day(s) Minister for Transport 30 Jun 1950 23 Feb 1953 2yr(s) 7mth(s) 25day(s) Attorney General 23 Feb 1953 15 Mar 1956 3yr(s) 22day(s) Minister for Health 15 Mar 1956 1 Apr 1959 3yr(s) 18day(s) Minister for Health 1 Apr 1959 14 Mar 1962 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 14day(s) Minister for Health 14 Mar 1962 13 May 1965 3yr(s) 1mth(s) 30day(s)

Political Party Activity

Australian Labor Party (ALP), joined in 1911, delegate to federal conference in 1939.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Public Servant and Lawyer (barrister). Educated at Tumut public and convent schools, St Patrick's College., Goulburn, and University of Sydney., LLB 1930; clerk in Crown Law Department 1914 - 1930; called to Bar in 1930; established large practice in criminal jurisdiction; New South Wales representative of Empire Law conference in 1953 and Law Convention, Canada, 1960; chairman of Sydney Cricket Ground

Military Service

Served in the Australian Infantry Forces 1916 - 1919, 17th Battalion and 5th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, France and Flanders, Private.

Honours Received

Queens Counsel (QC) in 1953; Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of New South Wales.

Personal

Son of Jeremiah Sheahan and Mary Ann Sheahan, publicans at Jugiong. Married Ellen Imelda Byrne on 10 September 1932 and had issue, 3 daughters and 1 son. His son, The Honourable Terence William Sheahan, was also a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Roman Catholic. Funeral at Jugiong cemetery from St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic church.

Additional Information

Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: W.F Sheahan - papers, 1914 - 1975 (MLMSS 3350); photographs in the PICMAN Database.

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