Frederick McDonald

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Frederick Albert McDonald (c. 1872 – 1925?) was an Australian politician and possible murder victim. Educated at public schools and at the University of Sydney, McDonald became a teacher and rose to become President of the Teachers Federation of New South Wales.^[1] In the 1922 federal election he contested the new seat of Barton for the Labor Party, defeating the Nationalist member for the abolished seat of Illawarra, Hector Lamond.

[edit] Disappearance

McDonald remained in parliament until 1925, when he was narrowly defeated by Nationalist candidate Thomas Ley. McDonald challenged the result in court, claiming that Ley had tried to bribe him.^[2] However, McDonald subsequently vanished on his way to a meeting with New South Wales Premier Jack Lang, and was never seen again. Ley was later deemed insane after committing murder in England, and was committed to Broadmoor Hospital; it is believed Ley was also responsible for McDonald's disappearance.^[1]^[2]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Carr, Adam (2008). Australian Election Archive. Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
^ ^a ^b O'Neill, Margaret; Evans, Brian (2004). Lateline History Challenge: Minister for Murder. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by New seat	Member for Barton 1922 – 1925	Succeeded by Thomas Ley

Persondata
NAME	McDonald, Frederick Albert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH	c. 1872
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH	1925?
PLACE OF DEATH