Murray Robson

Lieutenant Colonel Murray Robson CBE, DSO
18th Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales
In office 17 August 1954 – 20 September 1955
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Deputy	Robert Askin
Preceded by	Vernon Treatt
Succeeded by	Pat Morton
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Vaucluse
In office 29 August 1936 – 26 July 1957
Preceded by	William Foster
Succeeded by	Geoffrey Cox
Personal details
Born	(1906-03-07)7 March 1906 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia
Died	26 August 1974(1974-08-26) (aged 68) Rose Bay, New South Wales
Spouse(s)	Lesley Martin Priscilla Gee
Relations	William Robson (father) William Robson (grandfather)
Education	Newington College University of Sydney
Occupation	Politician and Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	Citizen Military Forces 2/3rd Field Regiment, RAA 2/31st Battalion, AIF
Battles/wars	Second World War Syria-Lebanon Campaign North African Campaign New Guinea campaign Borneo campaign
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (3)

Lieutenant Colonel Ewan Murray Robson CBE, DSO (7 March 1906 – 26 August 1974) was an Australian lawyer, soldier and a member of the New South Wales Parliament for over twenty years. Known for most of his life as Murray Robson, he was born in Sydney and educated at Newington College and the University of Sydney, where he gained degrees in arts and law. After working several years as a solicitor, Robson stood for, and was elected to, parliament on 29 August 1936 at a by-election for the seat of Vaucluse. He served many years on the backbenches, he enlisted in World War II and served with distinction during the war, gaining promotion to lieutenant colonel and receiving the Distinguished Service Order for his service.^[1]

Returning to politics, he had missed the foundation of the Liberal Party in 1945. When long-time Leader Vernon Treatt resigned the leadership in 1954 and contests between Deputy Leader Robert Askin and Pat Morton became deadlocked he was asked to stand and was consequently elected as party leader and Leader of the Opposition. He served little more than a year before he was deposed by Pat Morton. In 1957 he retired from politics and returned to his legal career before retiring. He died of a heart attack in August 1974.^[2]