Sir Kenneth McColl Anderson, (11 October 1909 – 29 March 1985) was an Australian politician.

Early life and career

Anderson was born at sea, off South Australia, when his parents were returning from a visit to Europe. He was the son of

David Anderson David Anderson may refer to: People In academia or science *David Anderson (academic) (born 1952), American college professor *David Anderson (engineer) (1880–1953), Scottish civil engineer and lawyer *David Anderson, 2nd Viscount Waverley (1911� ...

(member for Ryde in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1920–1927) and educated at Ryde Public School and Petersham Intermediate Schools in Sydney. He worked as an insurance clerk, auctioneer, estate agent and property valuer in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood. He married Madge Merrion in June 1936. He served in the second Australian Imperial Force during World War II as a lieutenant in the 8th Signals Division in

Malaya Malaya refers to a number of historical and current political entities related to what is currently Peninsular Malaysia in Southeast Asia: Political entities * British Malaya (1826–1957), a loose collection of the British colony of the Straits ...

and was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war in for three years at Changi Prison and on the Burma Railway. He was Mayor of Ryde Municipal Council from 1949 to 1950.

Political career

Anderson was elected as the member for Ryde in 1950, representing the Liberal Party, but was defeated at the 1953 election. Anderson was a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

for New South Wales, representing the Liberal Party from the 1953 half-senate elections until the dissolution of parliament before the 1975 election. He was Minister for Customs and Excise from June 1964 until February 1968 and Minister for Supply from February 1968 until August 1971 and Minister for Health from August 1971 until the defeat of the McMahon government at the December 1972 election. Anderson was made a Knight Bachelor in 1970 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972. He died in the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove, New South Wales, survived by his wife and a daughter.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Ken Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales Members of the Australian Senate Members of the Cabinet of Australia 1909 births 1985 deaths Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Australian Knights Bachelor Australian politicians awarded knighthoods Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Australian Army officers Australian Army personnel of World War II Australian auctioneers Australian prisoners of war Burma Railway prisoners 20th-century Australian politicians Mayors of Ryde Australian Ministers for Health People born at sea