Jack Kavanagh (politician)

John Patrick Marcus (Jack) Kavanagh (12 July 1879 – 6 July 1964) was a socialist leader in Canada and Australia.

Jack Kavanagh
Chairman of the Communist Party of Australia
In office
1925–1929
Succeeded byHerbert Moxon
Personal details
Born
John Patrick Marcus Kavanagh

12 July 1879
Ireland, United Kingdom
Died6 July 1964(1964-07-06) (aged 84)
Loftus, New South Wales, Australia
Citizenship
Nationality
Political party
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1900–1906
RankCorporal
UnitKing's Royal Rifle Corps
Battles/warsSecond Boer War

Political activist in Canada edit

He was a leading member of the Socialist Party of Canada from 1908 to 1921. At the founding meeting of the Worker's Party of Canada, which was the public face of the underground Communist Party of Canada, in February 1922, he was elected to the National Executive Committee of the party.[1]

Political activism in Australia edit

Kavanagh moved to Australia in 1925, and was a central leader of the Communist Party of Australia until 1930, when the Stalinist Comintern removed him from the leadership. He was expelled from the party in January 1931, readmitted, and then expelled a second time in 1934 after being accused of Trotskyism. In 1940, Kavanagh joined the Communist League of Australia which was the Australian section of the Fourth International.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Socialist History Project".

Sources edit

  • David Akers, Margaret Sampson, John Patrick (Jack) Kavanagh (1879-1964) Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14, 1996
  • A. Davidson, The Communist Party of Australia (Stanford, California, US, 1969)
  • F. Farrell, International Socialism and Australian Labour (Syd, 1981)
  • David Akers, Rebel or Revolutionary? Jack Kavanagh and the Early Years of the Communist Movement in Vancouver, 1920-1925, Labour/Le Travail (St John's, Newfoundland, Canada), 30, Fall 1992, p 9
  • Kavanagh papers (Australian National University Archives)
  • J. N. Rawling papers (Australian National University Archives).
  • Gordon Finlay private family papers

External links edit

Party political offices
Preceded by
Position established
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Australia
1925–1929
Succeeded by