Career
Born in Melbourne, he moved to South Australia as a child and received a primary education in Adelaide. He became a carriage painter, and an organiser with the Coachbuilders" Union. After serving in the military 1914-1918, he was federal President of the Vehicle Builders" Union (successor to the Coachbuilders" Union).
In 1943, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Labor Senator for South Australia.
He held the seat until his retirement in 1953. Finlay died in 1963.