Sir John Gilbert McLaren, (15 October 1871 – 27 July 1958) was a senior Australian public servant. He was a commissioner of the Public Service Board, Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department and served an appointment as official secretary, High Commissioner's Office in London.

Life and career

John McLaren was born in

Parramatta Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...

, New South Wales, on 15 October 1871. He was educated at

Sydney Boys High School , motto_translation = With Truth and Courage , established = , location = Cleveland Street, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pu ...

. In 1901, McLaren joined the

Commonwealth Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the Go ...

in the

Postmaster-General's Department The Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) was a department of the Australian federal government, established at Federation in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was ...

. Between 1921 and June 1928, McLaren was

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

of the

Department of Home and Territories The Department of Home and Territories was an Australian government department that existed between November 1916 and December 1928. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found ...

. In June 1928, McLaren was promoted to the Public Service Board as second member. He departed his Board position in December 1928, to take on the role of Secretary of the

Prime Minister's Department A cabinet department or prime minister's department is a department or other government agency that directly supports the work of the government's central executive office, usually the cabinet and/or prime minister, rather than specific ministe ...

. McLaren died in Strathfield, New South Wales, on 27 July 1958.

Awards

McLaren was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1925, and made a

Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are th ...

in June 1935 while Secretary of the London High Commission.

References

1871 births 1958 deaths Australian public servants Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Australian Knights Bachelor People educated at Sydney Boys High School {{Australia-gov-bio-stub