Archie Cameron | |
|---|---|
 Cameron as Speaker of the House | |
| 12th Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives | |
| In office 22 February 1950 – 9 August 1956 | |
| Preceded by | Sol Rosevear |
| Succeeded by | Sir John McLeay |
| Leader of the Country Party | |
| In office 13 September 1939 – 16 October 1940 | |
| Deputy | Harold Thorby Arthur Fadden |
| Preceded by | Earle Page |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Fadden |
| Minister for Commerce | |
| In office 14 March 1940 – 28 October 1940 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | Sir Earle Page |
| Succeeded by | George McLeay |
| Minister for Navy | |
| In office 14 March 1940 – 28 October 1940 | |
| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | Frederick Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Billy Hughes |
| Postmaster-General | |
| In office 7 November 1938 – 26 April 1939 | |
| Prime Minister | Joseph Lyons Earle Page |
| Preceded by | Alexander McLachlan |
| Succeeded by | Eric Harrison |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Barker | |
| In office 15 September 1934 – 9 August 1956 | |
| Preceded by | Malcolm Cameron |
| Succeeded by | Jim Forbes |
| Leader of the South Australian Country Party | |
| In office 1928 – 9 June 1932 | |
| Preceded by | Malcolm McIntosh |
| Succeeded by | party abolished |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for Wooroora | |
| In office 26 March 1927 – 7 August 1934 | |
| Preceded by | Allan Robertson |
| Succeeded by | Albert Robertson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 March 1895 Happy Valley, South Australia, Australia |
| Died | 9 August 1956 (aged 61) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Country (federal, 1927–40) Country (state, until 1932) LCL (state, 1932–1934) UAP (1940–44) Liberal (1944–56) |
| Spouse |
Margaret Walsh (m. 1925) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Archie Galbraith Cameron (22 March 1895 – 9 August 1956) was an Australian politician. He was a government minister under Joseph Lyons and Robert Menzies, leader of the Country Party from 1939 to 1940, and finally Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1950 until his death.
Cameron was born in Happy Valley, South Australia. After serving in World War I, he took up a farm near Loxton as a soldier settler. He was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly in 1927, and to the House of Representatives at the 1934 federal election. Cameron was Postmaster-General in the Lyons government from 1938 to 1939. He replaced Earle Page as leader of the Country Party in September 1939, and in March 1940 led the party back into coalition with the United Australia Party (UAP), which Page had broken off. Cameron was de facto deputy prime minister under Menzies, as well as Minister for Commerce and Minister for the Navy. However, he was deposed as Country Party leader in October 1940, subsequently defecting to the UAP (and later joining the new Liberal Party). Cameron's last appointment was as Speaker, where he was highly respected. He was known throughout his political career for his eccentric manner and strong personality.