David Fairbairn (politician)

Sir David Fairbairn
Fairbairn in 1969
Minister for Defence
In office
13 August 1971 – 5 December 1972
Prime MinisterWilliam McMahon
Preceded byJohn Gorton
Succeeded byLance Barnard
Minister for Education and Science
In office
22 March 1971 – 20 August 1971
Prime MinisterWilliam McMahon
Preceded byNigel Bowen
Succeeded byMalcolm Fraser
Minister for National Development
In office
10 June 1964 – 12 November 1969
Prime MinisterRobert Menzies
Harold Holt
John McEwen
John Gorton
Preceded byBill Spooner
Succeeded byReg Swartz
Minister for Air
In office
27 July 1962 – 10 June 1964
Prime MinisterRobert Menzies
Preceded byLes Bury
Succeeded byPeter Howson
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Farrer
In office
10 December 1949 – 11 November 1975
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byWal Fife
Personal details
Born(1917-03-03)3 March 1917
Claygate, Surrey, England
Died1 June 1994(1994-06-01) (aged 77)
Canberra, Australia
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Ruth Harrison
(m. 1945)
RelationsGeorge Fairbairn (grandfather)
Edmund Jowett (grandfather)
Alma materJesus College, Cambridge
OccupationPastoralist
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceCitizen Military Forces
Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service1939–1945
RankFlight Lieutenant
Unit21st Light Horse Riverina Regiment (1939–41)
No. 79 Squadron (1941–45)
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Sir David Eric Fairbairn, KBE, DFC (3 March 1917 – 1 June 1994) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1975. He held ministerial office as Minister for Air (1962–1964), National Development (1964–1969), Education and Science (1971), and Defence (1971–1972).