Harold Holt

Holt in 1953, National Archives of Australia; Image no.: M4294, 3/2; Barcode: 8852031; Series accession number : 2002/05167566, accessed on May 18, 2008

Birth Name: Harold Edward Holt

Date of Birth: August 5, 1908

Place of Birth: Stanmore, New South Wales, Australia

Date of Death: December 17, 1967

Place of Death: Point Nepean, Victoria, Australia

Ethnicity: English, Irish, German, one eighth Cornish, possibly Scottish

Harold Holt was an Australian politician. He served as Prime Minister of Australia, from 26 January, 1966 to 19 December, 1967, when he disappeared while swimming. He was also Leader of the House, from 26 September, 1956 to 26 January, 1966, Treasurer of Australia, from 10 December, 1958 to 26 January, 1966, and Leader of the Liberal Party, from 20 January, 1966 to 19 December, 1967, among other duties.

Prime Minister Holt was the son of Olive May (Williams) and Thomas James Holt. His father’s ancestry was one quarter English, one quarter Irish, one quarter German, and possibly one quarter Scottish. His mother was of one quarter Cornish, one quarter English, one quarter German, and one quarter Irish, descent.

Prime Minister Holt was married to fashion designer and socialite Zara Bate, until his disappearance, with whom he had three children.

Prime Minister Holt’s paternal grandfather was Thomas Holt (the son of Henry Holt and Ann Lemon). Henry was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, the son of James Holt and Mary Ann Lancaster. Prime Minister Holt’s great-grandmother Ann was born in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia, to Irish parents, William Lemon and Ann Driscoll.

Prime Minister Holt’s paternal grandmother was Mary Ann Elizabeth Worner (the daughter of Christian Gotlieb Worner and Janet Morrison). Christian was born in Berkhein, Wüttemberg, Germany, the son of John Frederick Worner and Anna Mariaa Blanck. Janet was born in Sydney, Australia, to a British father, Walter H. Morrison. Walter’s surname may suggest he was of Scottish origin.

Prime Minister Holt’s maternal grandfather was James Henry Williams (the son of Henry Williams and Louisa Hall). Prime Minister Holt’s great-grandfather Henry was born in Gwennap, Cornwall, the son of Peter Williams and Mary Ann Noel. Louisa was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, the daughter of John Hall and Elizabeth Hill.

Prime Minister Holt’s maternal grandmother was Hannah Berkholz (the daughter of Carl Berkholz and Elizabeth A. Richards). Carl was born in Dambeck, Potsdam, Brandenberg, Prussia, the son of Andreas Berkholz. Elizabeth was born in Portrush, Northern Ireland, the daughter of John Richards and Elizabeth.

Prime Minister Holt was the second person of significant non-British Isles ancestry to serve as Prime Minister of Australia. The other Prime Ministers of significant non-British Isles ancestry were/are:
*Chris Watson (who served for the Labour Party from 27 April, 1904 to 18 August, 1904; Watson’s father was of Austrian or German descent)
*John Gorton (who served for the Liberal Party from 10 January, 1968 to 10 March, 1971; one of Gorton’s great-grandfathers was German)
*Malcolm Fraser (who served for the Liberal Party from 11 November, 1975 to 11 March, 1983; Fraser’s maternal grandfather was Jewish)
*Tony Abbott (who served for the Liberal Party from 18 September, 2013 to 15 September, 2015; Abbott’s maternal grandfather was Dutch)
*Anthony Albanese (who has served for the Labor Party from 23 May, 2022; Albanese’s father is Italian/Arbëreshë)

Source: Genealogy of Harold Holt – http://www.wikitree.com