Sir Arthur Fadden | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Fadden in 1940 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 13th Prime Minister of Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 29 August 1941 – 7 October 1941 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | George VI | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Governor‑General | Lord Gowrie | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Robert Menzies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Robert Menzies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Curtin | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 7 October 1941 – 23 September 1943 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | John Curtin | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Billy Hughes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | John Curtin | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Robert Menzies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasurer of Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies Himself | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Percy Spender | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ben Chifley | ||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 19 December 1949 – 9 December 1958 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ben Chifley | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Harold Holt | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th Leader of the Country Party | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 12 March 1941 – 26 March 1958 Acting: 16 October 1940 – 12 March 1941 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Himself John McEwen | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Archie Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John McEwen | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Leader of the Country Party | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 16 October 1940 – 12 March 1941 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader | Himself (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Harold Thorby | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John McEwen | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Arthur William Fadden 13 April 1894 Ingham, Queensland Colony | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 21 April 1973 (aged 79) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | Mount Thompson Crematorium | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Country (from 1936) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | CPNP (until 1936) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Ilma Thornber (m. 1916) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Walkerston State School | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Accountant | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sir Arthur William Fadden GCMG (13 April 1894 – 21 April 1973) was an Australian politician and accountant who served as the 13th prime minister of Australia from 29 August to 7 October 1941. He was the leader of the Country Party from 1940 to 1958 and served as treasurer of Australia from 1940 to 1941 and 1949 to 1958.
Fadden was born in Ingham, Queensland, to Irish immigrant parents. He was raised in Walkerston, and left school at the age of 15. He was appointed town clerk of Mackay in 1916, but following the 1918 cyclone moved to Townsville and opened an accountancy firm. He was elected to the Townsville City Council in 1930, and in 1932 was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the Country and Progressive National Party. Fadden lost his seat in 1935, but the following year won a by-election to the federal Division of Darling Downs.
In March 1940, Fadden was named a minister without portfolio in the government of Robert Menzies, who led the United Australia Party in a coalition with the Country Party. A few months later, following the deaths of three senior ministers in an air crash, he took over as Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation. In October 1940, Fadden was elected acting leader of the Country Party as a compromise candidate, following a deadlocked leadership vote between Earle Page and John McEwen. He became the de facto deputy prime minister and was promoted by Menzies to treasurer.
Fadden was acting prime minister for four months early in 1941 (while Menzies was away in Europe), and became popular for his conciliatory manner. He became the official leader of the Country Party following a ballot in March 1941. In August 1941, Menzies resigned as prime minister after losing the confidence of his ministry. Fadden was elected leader of the UAP–Country coalition in his place, and consequently became prime minister. However, he held office for just 39 days before being replaced by John Curtin, whose Labor Party had successfully moved a motion of no confidence. After losing the prime ministership, Fadden continued on as leader of the opposition for two more years. In that capacity, he eventually resigned in favour of Menzies following the coalition's massive defeat at the 1943 election.
When Menzies returned as prime minister in 1949, Fadden became treasurer and de facto deputy prime minister for a second time, holding office until his retirement from politics in 1958. Only Peter Costello has served in the position for longer. Fadden enjoyed one of the most rapid rises in Australian political history, moving from private citizen to the prime ministership in just 11 years. He was the first prime minister born in Queensland, and the first and only member of the Country Party to become prime minister with his own mandate (rather than just serving as a caretaker after the death of a predecessor).