Roy Fagan

Roy Fagan
2nd Deputy Premier of Tasmania
In office 12 May 1959 – 26 May 1969
Premier	Eric Reece
Preceded by	John James Dwyer
Succeeded by	Kevin Lyons
Attorney-General of Tasmania
In office 10 December 1946 – 19 July 1958
Premier	Robert Cosgrove
Preceded by	Eric Ogilvie
Succeeded by	Bill Neilson
In office 12 May 1959 – 26 May 1969
Premier	Eric Reece
Preceded by	Eric Reece
Succeeded by	Max Bingham
Personal details
Born	Roy Frederick Fagan 28 December 1905 Waratah, Tasmania, Australia
Died	18 July 1990 (aged 84) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Gertrude Estelle Cooney (1925–1946; her death) Mavis Isabel Smith (1947–1990; his death)
Children	Three sons, one daughter
Alma mater	University of Tasmania
Profession	Barrister and solicitor

Roy Frederick Fagan (28 December 1905 – 18 July 1990) was an Australian Labor Party politician, who was Deputy Premier of Tasmania from 1959 to 1969.

Early life

Fagan was born in Waratah, Tasmania in 1905, the eldest son of James Fagan and Annie Theresa Breheney. His younger siblings were two brothers, Kevin and Vin, and a sister, Sheila.^[1] His Catholic mother sent him to St Virgil's College in Hobart to be schooled, although his Catholicism lapsed once he moved out of home and he was later known to be an agnostic who did not attend Mass.^[2]

On leaving school, Fagan joined the staff of the Commonwealth Bank where he worked until 1929, when he resigned to attend university.^[3]

Education and legal career

In 1930, Fagan commenced studies for a law degree at the University of Tasmania. In 1931, he was articled to the firm Gatenby, Johnson & Walker, and in May 1934 he graduated and was admitted to the Bachelor of Laws (LLB). During his studies, he had taken a keen interest in all aspects of university life, and was heavily involved with the Tasmania University Union, serving as the body's president for three years. He was admitted to the Bar in August 1934, after what the Hobart Mercury newspaper called a "brilliant university career".^[3] Fagan also completed a Bachelor of Arts and graduated in May 1935.^[4]

Political career

Fagan was asked by the Premier of Tasmania, Robert Cosgrove, to stand for the seat of Wilmot at the Tasmanian state election, 1946. Immediately following declaration of his election, Fagan was appointed Attorney-General in Cosgrove's cabinet.^[5]

Personal life

On 8 December 1925, aged 19, Fagan married Estelle Cooney, a shop assistant, in Wynyard. Cooney was pregnant at the time of their marriage, but did not live with Fagan between the time of the daughter's birth or afterwards. Fagan, although he remained married to Estelle, from the early 1930s was in a domestic relationship with fellow university student Mavis Smith. When Estelle died in 1946, Fagan married Smith at a Catholic church in Bellerive on 28 January 1947. They would have three sons.^[2]

References

1. "Obituary paragraphs.". The Advocate (Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 12 April 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
2. Michael Field, 'Fagan, Roy Frederick (1905–1990)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 18 March 2013.
3. "ADMITTED TO BAR.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 9 August 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
4. "DEGREES CONFERRED AT UNIVERSITY.". The Advocate (Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 15 May 1935. p. 7 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
5. "A Minister Shunned Publicity". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 7 June 1947. p. 2 Supplement: The Mercury Magazine. Retrieved 18 March 2013.