Essington Lewis | |
|---|---|
 Lewis c. 1945 | |
| Born | 13 January 1881 |
| Died | 2 October 1961 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | South Australian School of Mines |
| Occupation | Mining engineer |
| Years active | Employee 1904 – 26 managing director 1926–50 Chairman 1950–61 |
| Employer | BHP |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5[1] |
| Parent(s) | John Lewis Martha Brook |
| Relatives | Tom Lewis(nephew) Sandy Lewis(nephew) James Cowan(father-in-law) Darcy Rivers Warren Cowan(brother-in-law) |
Essington Lewis (13 January 1881 – 2 October 1961) was an Australian industrialist. He was the Director-General of theDepartment of Munitions duringWorld War II.
Essington Lewis was born inBurra, South Australia on 13 January 1881. His father was the pastoralist and politicianJohn Lewis (1844–1923), founder of Bagot, Shakes & Lewis. He was named afterPort Essington, where his father owned a cattle property.[2] He was educated atSt Peter's College, Adelaide and theSouth Australian School of Mines.
After joiningBHP in 1904, he rose through the company ranks to become managing director in 1926 and chairman in 1950, a position he held until his death in 1961.[citation needed] For the whole of his period as M.D., he had a close working relationship and personal friendship with Chairman of DirectorsHarold Gordon Darling (1885–1950).[citation needed]
During his travels to Germany and Japan in the 1930s, he realised the threat of these countries to Australia.[citation needed] Accordingly, he helped establish theCommonwealth Aircraft Corporation and many munitions facilities meaning Australia was better prepared for industrialisation when the war started in 1939. DuringWorld War II, he also served as Director-General of theDepartment of Munitions. He supported the establishment of the motor industry in Australia in 1948, being rewarded by being able to purchase the first commercially producedHolden 48-215.[citation needed]
He was appointed a Member of theOrder of the Companions of Honour on 24 September 1943 for his work as Director – Munitions & Aircraft Production in WW2.[3]
In 1910, he married Gladys Rosalind Cowan,OBE, the only daughter ofJames Cowan. Their family consisted of five children – sons James Essington Lewis and Robert Brook Lewis AM, and daughters Helen Clarke, Mary Munckton OAM and Jane Nevile. His sons were educated atGeelong Grammar School and the daughters at theClyde School. Two children died in infancy - David and Janet. The family lived inMalvern, Victoria and owned a country property named "Landscape" nearTallarook in central Victoria. Robert Brook (1918–2009) is notable as being the Master ofSt Mark's College, University of Adelaide from 1957 to 1968 and the Master ofMenzies College, La Trobe University from 1968 to 1970.[1][4][5][6]
He died while riding his horse on his property "Landscape" near Tallarook on 2 October 1961, aged 80. Newspapers of the day claimed he suffered a heart attack.[7] St John's Anglican Church,Toorak, was overflowing for his funeral; he was cremated.
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His life is the subject of several books, includingThe Steel-Master: a life of Essington Lewis by historianGeoffrey Blainey, another byClive Turnbull[8] and the musical playI am Work by John O'Donoghue.[9] The Essington Lewis Memorial Lecture has been presented annually in South Australia since its establishment in 1975. It is funded by BHP and was instituted by the Adelaide Branch of theAustralasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.[10] One ofWhyalla's main streets, Essington Lewis Avenue, was named in his honour.[11]
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| Preceded by | Director-general of theDepartment of Munitions 1940–1945 | Succeeded by John Jensen as Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development |
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