Brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...

Harold Edward Cohen, (25 November 1881 – 29 October 1946) was an Australian soldier, lawyer and, like his grandfather

Edward Cohen Edward Aaron Cohen (1822 – 13 April 1877) was an Australian merchant and a Victorian colonial politician. He served as Mayor of Melbourne from 1862 to 1863. Early life Cohen was born in London, the son of Henry Cohen and Elizabeth Cohen (''n� ...

, a Victorian State politician.

Early life

Cohen was the son of Montague and Annie Cohen and born in St Kilda,

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

. He married Freda Pirani on 4 December 1907, and they had two sons and two daughters. Cohen was educated at

Xavier College Xavier College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, founded in 1872 by the Society of Jesus, with its main campus located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Classes started in 1878. Th ...

where he was the first Jewish boy to attend the school. He was School Captain in 1898 was President of the Old Xaverians Association from 1919-1920. He continued his studies at

Melbourne University The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

. Prior to being a politician, Cohen was a solicitor, soldier and a company director.

Political career

In 1929, Cohen was elected as a Nationalist Party MP for

Melbourne South Province Melbourne South Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council. It was created in June 1904 when Melbourne Province was reduced in size (four members down to two) and North Yarra Province and South Yarra Province were abolish ...

in the

Victorian Legislative Council The Victorian Legislative Council (VLC) is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria, Australia, the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Co ...

. Cohen was Assistant Treasurer from 1932 until March 1935, Minister of Public Instruction and Solicitor-General from 20 March to 2 April 1935 in the government of

Stanley Argyle Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle KBE, MRCS, LRCP (4 December 1867 – 23 November 1940), was an Australian doctor, radiologist, businessman, and politician. Argyle was the former Leader of the Opposition, Treasurer and Premier of Victoria, achievi ...

. In 1935, he changed to the

Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The presiding ...

and was elected to Caulfield and was member for Caulfield until his defeat in 1943.

Scouting

Cohen served as Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria from 1919 to 1921.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Harold 1881 births 1946 deaths Military personnel from Melbourne Australian brigadiers Australian military personnel of World War I Australian Army personnel of World War II Australian people of English-Jewish descent Australian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Politicians from Melbourne Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Members of the Victorian Legislative Council Solicitors-General of Victoria Jewish Australian politicians United Australia Party members of the Parliament of Victoria Nationalist Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria 20th-century Australian politicians People from St Kilda, Victoria