Howard John1939

Australian lawyer and politician, who served as the 25th Prime Minister of Australia (1996-2007) and Leader of the Liberal Party (1985-1989; 1995-2007). His nearly twelve-year tenure as Prime Minister is the second-longest in history, behind only Sir Robert Menzies, who served for eighteen non-consecutive years. He has also been the oldest living former Australian Prime Minister since the death of Bob Hawke in 2019. A member of a Sydney law firm, he entered politics as the Liberal MHR for Bennelong in 1974 and served in the Fraser Government. On 18 November 1977, he became Treasurer and on 5 September 1985, defeated Andrew Peacock for the Partys leadership. He split from the National Party on 24 April 1987 and on 11 July 1987, lost the election to Bob Hawke. On 8 May 1989, he lost the Liberal leadership to his long term rival Andrew Peacock. Howard was re-elected Liberal leader on 13 March 1993 and on 2 March 1996, he became Australias 25th Prime Minister. On 25 July 1997, he was taken to hospital with a bout of pneumonia. Howards book Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography was released on 26 October 2010. He married Janette Parker on 4 April 1971, they have three children. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less