Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, has been honoured by the Menzies Foundation with the launch of the Menzies Virtual Museum, a website which documents the life of the founder of the modern Liberal Party.

Menzies was twice Prime Minister: from 1939-41, and from 1949-1966. He retired undefeated after 16 continuous years as prime minister, having served a total of 18 years, 5 months and 12 days.

Menzies became Prime Minister following the death of Joseph Lyons on April 7, 1939. Leading Australia into World War II, Menzies’ government steadily disintegrated, riven by personal and political rivalries. Menzies resigned on August 29, 1941. Shortly afterwards, his successor, the Country Party’s Arthur Fadden, was defeated on the floor of the House of Representatives, after two independent members shifted their support to the ALP’s John Curtin. [Read more…]