Background
Cosgrove, Robert was born on December 28, 1884 in Tea Tree, Tasmania. Son of Michael T. and Mary Ann (Hewitt) Cosgrove.
politician Premier of Tasmania
Cosgrove, Robert was born on December 28, 1884 in Tea Tree, Tasmania. Son of Michael T. and Mary Ann (Hewitt) Cosgrove.
Student Richmond and Hobart Tasmania public schools.
His eighteen years as premier remains the longest in Tasmania"s history. He dominated the state"s Australian Labor Party branch for a generation. Elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Denison in 1919, he was defeated in 1922.
He regained the seat in 1925, holding it until 1931.
Reelected in 1934, he remained in the legislature until his retirement in 1958. He was minister administering the Hydro-Electric Commission Acting for sixteen years between 1942 and 1958
She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1947.
In December 1947, Cosgrove was indicted on charges of bribery and corruption. He stood down as Premier during his trial, and Edward Brooker was sworn in as his replacement on 19 December 1947.
The trial was concluded by February the next year, and the charges against Cosgrove were dropped.
Brooker stood down and Cosgrove was reinstated, appointing Brooker as Treasurer and Minister for Transport. Cosgrove was chairman of the Tasmanian Tourist Council and of the Southern Tasmanian Trotting Association. Cosgrove was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George in 1958.
He was also a member of the council of the University of Tasmania (1940-1946 and 1948-1955) and of the local branch of the Street Vincent de Paul Society, and president of the Royal Hobart Golf Club.
Married Gertrude A. Geappen, January 10, 1911. Children: Gladys Lillian, Mary Irene, Robert James, Henry Edward.