Tony Abbott

Abbott in 2014, photo by palinchak/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Anthony John Abbott

Place of Birth: Lambeth, London, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 4 November, 1957

Ethnicity:
*75% British Isles [English, including possibly some Scottish]
*25% Dutch

Tony Abbott is an Australian politician. He served as Prime Minister of Australia, from 18 September, 2013 to 15 September, 2015. He has also been a Member of the Australian Parliament for Warringah, from 26 March, 1994 to 18 May, 2019, Leader of the House, from 26 November, 2001 to 3 December, 2007, Leader of the Opposition, from 1 December, 2009 to 18 September, 2013, Leader of the Liberal Party, from 1 December, 2009 to 14 September, 2015, and the 10th Chairman of the Commonwealth of Nations, from 18 September, 2013 to 15 November, 2013, among other duties.

Prime Minister Abbott is the son of Fay (Peters) and Richard Henry “Dick” Abbott, a maritime engineer. His father is English, from Newcastle upon Tyne. His mother is Australian, from Sydney, and has Dutch and English ancestry. He is married to Margie Abbott, with whom he has three children.

Prime Minister Abbott’s paternal grandfather was Ernest Henry Abbott (the son of Ernest Richard Abbott and Ada Grace Yabsley). Prime Minister Abbott’s grandfather Ernest was born in Devon. Prime Minister Abbott’s great-grandfather Ernest was the son of Henry Abbott and Eliza Jane Cowell. Ada was the daughter of John William Yabsley and Amelia Caroline Triggs.

Prime Minister Abbott’s paternal grandmother was Jane Elizabeth Keir (the daughter of John Keir and Sarah Murray). Jane was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. John likely was the son of John Taylor Keir and Jane Elizabeth Capstaff.

Prime Minister Abbott’s maternal grandfather was named Anthony Bredschneijder Peters (the son of Willemina Bredschneijder). Willemina was Dutch, and immigrated to Australia with her son Anthony. The surname Peters comes from Willemina’s second husband, Hendrik F. Peters.

Prime Minister Abbott’s maternal grandmother was Phyllis Irene Lacey (the daughter of Arthur George Lacey and Lucy Fudge). Phyllis was born in Gelligaer, Wales, to parents from Gloucestershire, England. Arthur was the son of Charles Lacey and Mary Ann Hand. Lucy was the daughter of Job Fudge and Louisa Gibbs.

Prime Minister Abbott is one of six people of significant non-British Isles ancestry to have served 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)
*Harold Holt (who served for the Liberal Party from 26 January, 1966 to 17 December, 1967; two of Holt’s great-grandfathers were German)
*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)
*Anthony Albanese (who has served for the Labor Party from 23 May, 2022; Albanese’s father is Italian/Arbëreshë)

Sources: Genealogy of Tony Abbott (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of Tony Abbott (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Family history of Tony Abbott – http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.se