Finlay Crisp
Encyclopedia
Leslie Finlay "Fin" Crisp (19 January 191721 December 1984) was an Australia
n academic and political scientist.
"Fin" Crisp was born in Sandringham, Victoria
. Educated at Black Rock
State School, Caulfield Grammar School
and St Peter's College, Adelaide
, where he graduated in 1934, Crisp earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from the University of Adelaide
. While at university, he and his wife Helen (née Wighton; 26 September 191625 May 2002) formed the National Union of Australian University Students. In 1938 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
and went on to study at Balliol College
in Oxford University, although his studies were disrupted while he worked for the Australian Public Service during World War II
. His work included positions with the Shortwave Broadcasting Service, the Department of Labour, and the Department of Post-War Reconstruction
. In 1945 he was also a member of the Australian Delegation to form the United Nations
. He earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Oxford in 1948, and then became Director-General of the Department of Post-War Reconstruction.
From 1950 he was a professor of political science at the Australian National University
in Canberra
, serving as head of the department from 1950 to 1970. He continued teaching until retirement in 1977. He was appointed a director of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation in 1974, and served as chairman of the board from 1975 to 1984. He died in December 1984 in Canberra.
In 2005, Crisp and his wife were two of the first 17 inductees in the Australian Capital Territory
Honour Walk, recognising their contribution to Canberra's development.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n academic and political scientist.
"Fin" Crisp was born in Sandringham, Victoria
Sandringham, Victoria
Sandringham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Sandringham had a population of 8693.-History:...
. Educated at Black Rock
Black Rock, Victoria
Black Rock is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Black Rock had a population of 5796.-History:...
State School, Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
and St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
, where he graduated in 1934, Crisp earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. While at university, he and his wife Helen (née Wighton; 26 September 191625 May 2002) formed the National Union of Australian University Students. In 1938 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
and went on to study at Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
in Oxford University, although his studies were disrupted while he worked for the Australian Public Service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His work included positions with the Shortwave Broadcasting Service, the Department of Labour, and the Department of Post-War Reconstruction
Department of Post-War Reconstruction (Australia)
The Department of Post-War Reconstruction was an Australian Government department responsible for planning and coordinating Australia's transition to a peacetime economy after World War II...
. In 1945 he was also a member of the Australian Delegation to form the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Oxford in 1948, and then became Director-General of the Department of Post-War Reconstruction.
From 1950 he was a professor of political science at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, serving as head of the department from 1950 to 1970. He continued teaching until retirement in 1977. He was appointed a director of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation in 1974, and served as chairman of the board from 1975 to 1984. He died in December 1984 in Canberra.
In 2005, Crisp and his wife were two of the first 17 inductees in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
Honour Walk, recognising their contribution to Canberra's development.