Frederick McDonald

Frederick McDonald
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Barton
In office
16 December 1922 – 14 November 1925
Preceded by New seat
Succeeded by Thomas Ley
Personal details
Born c. 1872
Died ? April 1926[1]
Nationality British subject (Australian)
Political party Labor
Alma mater University of Sydney
Profession Teacher

Frederick Albert McDonald (c. 1872 – ? April 1926[1]) was an Australian politician and possible murder victim. Educated at public schools and at the University of Sydney, McDonald became a teacher and rose to become President of the Teachers Federation of New South Wales.[2] In the 1922 federal election he contested the new seat of Barton for the Labor Party, defeating the Nationalist member for the abolished seat of Illawarra, Hector Lamond.

Disappearance

McDonald remained in parliament until 1925, when he was narrowly defeated by Nationalist candidate Thomas Ley. McDonald challenged the result in court, claiming that Ley had tried to bribe him.[3] However, on 15 April 1926 McDonald vanished on his way to a meeting with New South Wales Premier Jack Lang, in which he was to have discussed a proposal to have the election result declared void.[4] Despite an extensive search, neither McDonald's body nor his attache case were ever found.[5]

Thomas Ley was later deemed insane after committing murder in England, and was committed to Broadmoor Hospital, where he died. It is believed Ley was also responsible for McDonald's disappearance, and the suspicious deaths of other of his political opponents.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 Parliamentary Handbook
  2. 1 2 Carr, Adam (2012). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  3. 1 2 O'Neill, Margaret; Evans, Brian (2004). "Lateline History Challenge: Minister for Murder". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  4. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography: Thomas John Ley. Retrieved 19 June 2015
  5. ↑ Morton, James (2011). Kings of Stings: The Greatest Swindles from Down Under. Australia: Victory Books. p. 336. ISBN 9780522858594.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
New seat		 Member for Barton
1922 – 1925 		Succeeded by
Thomas Ley
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