Reginald Weaver
Reginald Walter Darcy Weaver (18 July 1876 – 12 November 1945) was an Australian conservative parliamentarian who served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 28 years. Serving from 1917 in the backbenches, he entered the cabinet of Thomas Bavin in 1929 as Secretary for Mines and Minister for Forests until he returned to opposition in 1930. Following the success of the United Australia Party in the 1932 election, Weaver returned as the Secretary for Public Works and Minister for Health in the Stevens ministry.
Reginald Weaver | |
|---|---|
Weaver in October 1932 | |
| 16th Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales Elections: 1944 | |
| In office 10 February 1944 – 12 November 1945 | |
| Monarch | George VI |
| Deputy | Athol Richardson |
| Preceded by | Alexander Mair |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Mair |
| 19th Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 4 August 1937 – 27 May 1941 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Daniel Levy |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Clyne |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Neutral Bay | |
| In office 8 October 1927 – 12 November 1945 | |
| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Ivan Black |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 July 1876 Quirindi, Colony of New South Wales |
| Died | 12 November 1945 (aged 69) Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Gertrude Weaver (née Walker) |
| Education | Newington College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1918 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | AIF |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
In 1935 he was dropped from the ministry but was later elected as the Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1937, holding office until the Mair Government lost power in 1941. Weaver then witnessed the death of the United Australia Party in 1943 and became the leader of the new Democratic Party in 1944. He was then involved in the negotiations to form the New South Wales branch of the Liberal Party, with Weaver becoming the first leader of the state Liberal Party in April 1945. He served only briefly until dying of a heart attack in November 1945.