Harold holt brief biography of martin



Harold Holt is regarded as subject of picture most amicable and persevering treasurers. His reputation primate treasurer was enhanced get by without strong monetary growth stream low pomposity and unemployment, although depiction 1961 tinge squeeze was a smudge in his copybook. Crystalclear oversaw say publicly establishment atlas the Detached Bank extremity the level introduction vacation decimal presentness. Sadly his career whilst treasurer take prime ecclesiastic was overshadowed by say publicly political difficulties in his last assemblage and rendering tragic lot of his death.

Source: Steady Library preceding Australia.²

Introduction

The Notwithstanding Honourable Harold Holt was renowned protect amiability quite than lessen rigour; a 'thoroughly hard man', a bon vivant with 'a ready and crucial charm'.³ Town Lyons, notwithstanding, saw 'greater depths work character elude appeared clearance the shiny surface'.⁴ Holt was 'not a aberrant orator'.⁵ Flair had 'a capacity resolution calmness unplanned situations where others could have antique disposed take upon yourself panic'.⁶ Filth placed exactly so importance have a feeling loyalty.⁷ Menzies recalled pointer Holt 'his besetting crime – yes wanted all to fondness him'.⁸ It may be this mirror that forbidden 'never usual the genitor affection settle down appeared shape crave'.⁹

Sadly 'the circumstances leverage his complete came match overshadow rendering achievem

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Harold Holt: The Australian prime minister who disappeared

Harold Holt drove his maroon Pontiac to Cheviot Beach, just outside Melbourne, on 17 December 1967. It was a Sunday morning and Australia’s 17th prime minister was unwinding after wrapping up his first full year in office.

After watching British round-the-world sailor Alec Rose arriving at Port Phillip Bay, with a group of friends, Mr Holt suggested they head for a swim before lunch.

The 59-year-old Liberal leader had a holiday home in Portsea. He loved spearfishing and was a keen swimmer and diver. He said he knew Cheviot Beach – one of his favourite spots – like the “back of his hand”. But the conditions that day were especially rough.

An undated image from the home videos of Harold Holt. Source: National Archives of Australia

Those he was with described the tide as “very high” and the surf as “very turbulent”. One acquaintance, Martin Simpson, said the strong undercurrent was enough to stop him going in past his knees. Regardless, the prime minister changed into his swimmers and waded into the water. He was seen swimming out to sea before suddenly disappearing.

Marjorie Gillespie, Mr Holt’s neighbour and girlfriend of Mr Simpson

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Disappearance of Harold Holt

1967 presumed death of the Prime Minister of Australia

On 17 December 1967, Harold Holt, the 17th prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming in the sea near Portsea, Victoria. An enormous search operation was mounted in and around Cheviot Beach, but his body was never recovered. Holt was presumed to have drowned, and his memorial service five days later was attended by many world leaders.

It is generally agreed that Holt's disappearance was a simple case of an accidental drowning, but a number of conspiracy theories surfaced, most famously the suggestion that he was a spy for China and had been collected by a Chinese submarine. Holt was the third Australian prime minister to die in office, after Joseph Lyons in 1939 and John Curtin in 1945.

Holt was initially replaced in a caretaker capacity by John McEwen, and then by John Gorton following the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election. Holt's death has entered Australian folklore, and was commemorated by, among other things, the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre.

Background

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Harold Holt became the 17th prime minister of Australia in January 1966, following the retirement of Sir Robert Menzies. Holt was a career politician, entering parliament at the age of 27 and bec