Joseph Cook
Joseph Cook was a prominent Australian politician and trade unionist who played a significant role in the early political landscape of Australia. Born in Silverdale, Staffordshire, England, he began his working life in the coal mines at the tender age of nine before emigrating to Australia in 1885. Settling in Lithgow, New South Wales, Cook became actively involved in the local labor movement, eventually being elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1891 as one of the first members of the Labor Party. His tenure as party leader was short-lived, as he departed from Labor in 1894 due to disagreements over party discipline, subsequently aligning himself with the Free Trade Party under George Reid. Cook's political career continued to flourish as he transitioned to the federal stage, where he was elected to the new Federal Parliament in 1901. His leadership of the Anti-Socialist Party from 1908 to 1909 and subsequent merger with the Protectionist Party in 1909 marked a pivotal moment in Australian politics, creating a unified anti-Labor party. As the sixth Prime Minister of Australia from 1913 to 1914, Cook's victory at the 1913 election was historic, as it represented the first time a centre-right party secured a majority in an Australian federal election. His legacy is characterized by his contributions to the formation of the Liberal Party and his influence on the evolving political dynamics of Australia during a formative period in its history.
Famous Quotes
View all 13 quotes“Grace is the face that love wears when it meets imperfection.””
“Ah! These commercial interests -- spoiling the finest life under the sun. Why must the sea be used for trade -- and for war as well?...It would have been so much nicer just to sail about, with here and there a port and a bit of land to stretch one's legs on, buy a few books and get a change of cooking for a while.””
“We!” he emphasizes, pointing at his crew, “get to be the first link in a new chapter in our history. But I want you all to really consider what is going on here…” He takes the tone of a circus ringmaster. “This is bigger than successfully colonizing Mars and Ganymede. It’s bigger than Columbus or Magellan. It’s even bigger than the first homo sapiens leaving Africa.” He raises his voice even more, waving his arms. “Hell, this is bigger than fish crawling out of the fucking water and growing legs! Think about it!” Everyone is quiet, avoiding eye contact with Calvin. Everyone except Captain Taylor looks at him ambiguously.“Why not Cook and Vancouver?” Taylor asks. “Excuse me, sir?”“You said Columbus or Magellan, but that’s preposterous. Magellan was a madman who tortured his crew and never made the whole trip, and Columbus, to be honest, is completely overblown. The dignity alone that Captain Cook commanded…”“Yeah, yeah, OK. Cook and Magellan? Frances Drake? Whoever. The point is…” Calvin walks to the glass and points. “This,” the pudgy showman continues, “is right here, right now. Got it?! Everyone here needs to admit the real reason we want to go down to that mysterious blue planet, figure out the atmosphere, and collect some space plasma. It’s not because it’s our job. No. It’s time we’re all honest and admit we are now part of something much bigger than ourselves. It’s not just our job, it’s our story. It’s our story as human beings, it’s our instinct to explore!””
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