Kenneth Morris

Who was Kenneth Morris?

Sir Kenneth James Morris KBE was an Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, he was educated at Brisbane Grammar School before becoming the director of his family's boot manufacturing firm. In 1931, he married Ettie Louise Dunlop. He served in the military 1939-1944, in Britain, Tobruk and Egypt; rising to the rank of Major. A founding member of the Queensland Liberal Party, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in 1944 as the member for Enoggera, transferring to Mount Coot-tha in 1950. He was state Leader of the Liberal Party 1954-1963. He was Deputy Premier 1957-1962, Minister for Labour and Industry 1957-1963. He stepped down temporarily, due to health reasons, in August 1962 and moved to Cooktown where he cultivated legume seed. In December 1963, he won a special election for a Senate seat in Queensland, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Labor Senator Max Poulter and to which George Whiteside had been appointed. Morris defeated Whiteside 50.6% to 49.4%. He retired in 1967. Morris died in 1978 at Chermside, Brisbane.