Background
Sir Essington Lewis was born at Burra, South Australia, on January 13, 1881.
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Essington Lewis
Edit ProfileEducation
He was trained at St. Peter's College, Adelaide, at the Adelaide School of Mines.
Career
He joined the Broken Hill Proprietary Company when it was still a silver-lead mine operation at Broken Hill in New South Wales. He rose rapidly in the company and was a leading figure in the company's development as an iron and steel producer. During World War I and in the ensuing years the company expanded greatly; Lewis became chief general manager in 1938 and chairman of directors in 1950.
Lewis anticipated the onset of World War II, and in 1938 he persuaded the Commonwealth government to set up the Advisory Panel on Industrial Organization, of which he was made chairman, which developed plans for industrial mobilization in wartime. In 1940 he was named director-general of munitions, and in 1942 director-general of aircraft production.
Achievements
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Lewis was a chief creator of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, the largest industrial enterprise in Australia and the country's main iron and steel producer. During World War II he played a significant part in organizing Australian mobilization.
For his contributions to the war effort, Lewis was made Companion of Honor in 1943.
Connections
In 1910, he married Gladys Rosalind Cowan, OBE, the only daughter of James Cowan. Their family consisted of five children.
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Born
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Died
January 2, 1961 (aged 79) -
Nationality
Australian