Richard Casey

Richard Casey’s career combined engineering, military service, politics, and diplomacy. After service at Gallipoli and in France during the First World War, he worked as Australia’s liaison officer in London and entered federal Parliament in 1931. He became treasurer and then minister for supply and development. ¹

In 1940 Casey opened Australia’s diplomatic legation in Washington, establishing direct representation at a time of growing danger in the Pacific. In 1942 he accepted Winston Churchill’s invitation to become Britain’s minister of state in the Middle East, and subsequently served as governor of Bengal. ²

Returning to Australian politics, Casey was minister for external affairs from 1951 to 1960. He also supported scientific research through CSIRO and Antarctic exploration. He later served as governor general from 1965 to 1969. ^{1, 2}