Harold Breen
Harold Patrick Breen CBE (30 April 1893 – 6 July 1966) was a senior Australian public servant. He was head of the Department of Defence Production between 1951 and 1957.
Harold Breen CBE | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development | |
| In office 31 July 1949 – 16 March 1950 | |
| Secretary of the Department of Supply | |
| In office 17 March 1950 – 10 May 1951 | |
| Secretary of the Department of Defence Production | |
| In office 11 May 1951 – 8 August 1957 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harold Patrick Breen 30 April 1893 Richmond, Melbourne |
| Died | 6 July 1966 (aged 73) Malvern, Melbourne |
| Resting place | St Kilda Cemetery |
| Nationality | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes Rose O'Sullivan (m. 1916–1923; her death) Rosa Marguerita Maree Carrodus (m. 1930–1934; her death) Constance Jessie Gillespie (m. 1957–1966; his death) |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Life and career
Harold Breen was born on 30 April 1893 in Richmond, Melbourne.[1]
He commenced his Commonwealth Public Service career in 1910 in the Department of Defence in the Ordnance Department.[2]
Rising up the ranks, he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development in July 1949,[3] and later head of the Department of Supply in 1950.[4]
When the Department of Defence Production was established in 1951, Breen was appointed as its inaugural head.[5] He remained in the position until his retirement in 1957.[1]
Breen died in Malvern on 6 July 1966 and was buried in St Kilda Cemetery.[1]
Awards
Breen was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1953 during his time as head of the Defence Production Department.[6]
References
- Blaazer, D.P. (1993), "Breen, Harold Patrick (1893–1966)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 1 September 2014
- CP 182: Harold Patrick BREEN CBE, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 1 September 2014
- CA 54: Department of Supply and Development, Central Office [II], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 1 September 2014
- CA 57: Department of Supply, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 1 September 2014
- CA 58: Department of Defence Production, Central Administration, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 1 September 2014
- "Search Australian Honours: BREEN, Harold Patrick", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 1 September 2014
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Jensen |
Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development 1949 – 1950 |
Succeeded by Charles Hector McFadyen as Secretary of the Department of Fuel, Shipping and Transport |
| Succeeded by Robert Jackson as Secretary of the Department of National Development | ||
| Succeeded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Supply | ||
| Preceded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development |
Secretary of the Department of Supply 1950 – 1951 |
Succeeded by Jack Stevens |
| Succeeded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Defence Production | ||
| Preceded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Supply |
Secretary of the Department of Defence Production 1951–1957 |
Succeeded by John Knott |