Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st and last Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, 8th Prime Minister of Australia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Bruce

Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC (15 April 1883 – 25 August 1967), was an Australian politician and diplomat, and the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He was the second Australian granted an hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, but the first whose peerage was formally created. He was the first incumbent Prime Minister to lose his seat at an election; the only other being John Howard in 2007.

http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/bruce

Stanley Melbourne Bruce

Australia’s eighth Prime Minister is also the second youngest. He was a decorated war hero before he became Prime Minister in 1923. Stanley Melbourne Bruce was perfectly suited to the elegance and confidence of his period – the ‘Roaring Twenties’.

In office for six years, his government sought management of imperial trade in Australia’s interests and a voice for Australia in shaping British foreign policy. His uncompromising stand on industrial relations brought down his government in 1929.

Ethel Bruce was as stylish and dignified a figure as her husband. She fulfilled her official tasks with aplomb, both at home and abroad. As the first tenants of the official prime ministerial residence in the new capital city, the Bruces left their mark on the form and style of The Lodge.

SM Bruce became Australia’s longest-serving High Commissioner in London and his work at the League of Nations laid the foundations of enduring international agencies.

The highest of the many official honours he earned was his peerage and from 1947 he was titled Lord Bruce of Melbourne. His chosen coat of arms features two Australian lyrebirds and the motto ‘We have been faithful’.

http://thepeerage.com/p18527.htm#i185268

Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st and last Viscount Bruce of Melbourne was born on 15 April 1883.1 He was the son of John Monroe Bruce.1 He married Ethel Dunlop Anderson, daughter of Andrew George Anderson, in 1913.1 He died on 25 August 1967 at age 84, without issue.1

He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.1 He was educated in 1904 at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).2 He was admitted to Middle Temple in 1907.2 He gained the rank of Captain in the service of the Worcestershire Regiment and Royal Fusiliers.2 He fought in the First World War between 1914 and 1917, where he was mentioned in despatches and wounded twice.2 He was decorated with the award of Croix de Guerre (avec palme).2 He was decorated with the award of Military Cross (M.C.).1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) [Australia] between 1918 and 1929, for Flinders.2 He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1923.2 He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1923.2 He held the office of Minister for External Affairs [Australia] between 1923 and 1929.2 He held the office of Prime Minister of Australia between 1923 and 1929.2 He was invested as a Companion of Honour (C.H.) in 1927.1,2 He held the office of Australian Minister for London between 1932 and 1933.2 He held the office of High Commissioner for Australia in London between 1933 and 1945.2 He was created 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, of Westminster Gardens, in the City of Westminster [U.K.] on 18 March 1947.1 He held the office of Chancellor between 1951 and 1961.2

On his death, his viscountancy became extinct.1 He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.3