McKell, Sir William John, 1891 – 1985

Sir William McKell (1891-1985), boilermaker, parliamentarian, Premier and Governor General, was born at Pambula NSW, son of Robert and Martha McKell. The family moved to Sydney in 1898 and McKell was educated at Bourke Street Public School, Surry Hills. McKell left school at the age of thirteen and was apprenticed as a boilermaker. McKell formed an apprentices' union and was later Assistant Secretary to the Boilermakers' Union.

McKell studied law at night and was admitted as a barrister-at-law in 1925 and appointed King's Counsellor in 1945. He was elected the Labor Party member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Redfern (1917-1920), Botany (1920-1927) and Redfern (1927-1947). His ministerial positions included Justice (1920-1922, 1925-1927, 1931-1932), Local Government (1930-1931) and Assistant Treasurer (1925-1927). McKell was Premier and Treasurer from May 1941 to February 1947.

Sir William McKell was Governor-General of Australia from 1947 to 1953 . Between 1956 and 1957 McKell was a member of the Malayan Constitutional Commission.