Country Companions

Rt Hon Sir William McMahon
20th Prime Minister of Australia Elections: 1972
In office 10 March 1971 – 5 December 1972
Preceded by	John Gorton
Succeeded by	Gough Whitlam
Born	23 February 1908(1908-02-23) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	31 March 1988 (aged 80)
Political party	Liberal

Sir William McMahon, GCMG, CH (23 February 1908 – 31 March 1988), Australian politician and 20th Prime Minister of Australia, was born in Sydney, New South Wales, where his father was a lawyer.

He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in law. He practised in Sydney with "Allen, Allen and Hemsley", the oldest law firm in Australia. In 1940 he joined the Army, but because of a hearing loss he was confined to staff work. After World War II he travelled in Europe and completed an economics degree.