Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

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Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography is Australia's pre-eminent dictionary of national biography. In it you will find concise, informative and fascinating descriptions of the lives of significant and representative persons in Australian history.

See what distinguished Australians are saying about the ADB.

The ADB is produced by the National Centre of Biography at the Australian National University.


* *Proposed ADB entries for people who died 1991-2000* *

Feature Article

James Thomas Dooley (1877–1950)

James Thomas Dooley

James Thomas Dooley (1877-1950), politician, was born on 26 April 1877 at Carrick Crean, Longford, Ireland, fourth son of Thomas Dooley, farmer and gardener, and his wife Elizabeth, née O'Connor. On 1 August 1885, in the Dorunda, the family arrived in Brisbane, where, after attending a state school, at 12 Jim began work as a draper's assistant; later he was apprenticed to a tailor and attended technical college evening classes, joining the college literary and debating society, to which his future...

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What’s New

1996 Entries

Browse through the list of articles for people who died in 1996

19 August 2022

New ADB Entries

10 new ADB entries published online
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28 August 2021

Biographical Dictionary of the House of Representatives

Biographical Dictionary of the House of Representatives project: Lives of the Men and Women of the House
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29 March 2021

ADB volume 19

ADB volume 19 published
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Born This Day

Irene Crespin (1896–1980)

Irene Crespin

Irene Crespin (1896-1980), geologist and micropalaeontologist, was born on 12 November 1896 at Kew, Melbourne, daughter of Godwin George Crespin, auctioneer, and his wife Eliza Jane, née Kitchen, both...

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