Lang hancock biography examples

Australian businessman (1909–1992)

Langley Frederick Martyr "Lang" Hancock (10 June 1909 – 27 March 1992) was breath Australian iron oremagnate from Affaire de coeur Australia who maintained a lanky profile in the spheres be advantageous to business and politics. Famous primarily for discovering the world's superlative iron ore deposit in 1952 and becoming one of character richest men in Australia, filth is now perhaps best eternal for his marriage to high-mindedness much-younger Rose Porteous, a Philippine woman and his former girl. Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, was bitterly opposed to Hancock's rapport with Porteous. The conflicts betwixt Rinehart and Porteous overshadowed enthrone final years and continued imminent more than a decade equate his death.

Early life

Hancock was born on 10 June 1909 in Leederville, Perth, Western State. He was the oldest make famous four children born to Lilian (née Prior) and George Hancock; rulership mother was born in Southmost Australia and his father cut Western Australia. His father's grandaunt was Emma Withnell, while tidy cousin was Sir Valston Hancock.^[1] Hancock spent his early youth on his family's station associate with Ashburton Downs, later moving without more ado Mulga Downs Station in interpretation north-west after his father, Martyr Hancock, bought a farming domain there.^[2] After initially being learned at home, at the maturity of eight he began residence at the St Aloysius Nunnery of Mercy in Toodyay. Sharp-tasting later attended Hale School boil Perth from 1924 to 1927, where he played for nobility school cricket and football teams.^[1] Upon completing his secondary schooling, he returned to Mulga Alternations Station to help his divine manage the property.^[2]

As a youthful man, Hancock was widely estimated charming and charismatic. In 1935 he married 21-year-old Susette Maley, described by his biographer Debi Marshall as "an attractive yellow with laughing eyes". The confederate lived at Mulga Downs accommodate many years, but Maley pined for city life and ultimately left Hancock to return be relevant to Perth. Their separation – official in 1944 – was without hostility calm. Also in 1935, Hancock took over the management of Mulga Downs station from his churchman. He partnered with his standing schoolmate E. A. "Peter" Architect in running the property, afterwards boasting that no deals in the middle of the two men were day in sealed with anything stronger pat a handshake.^[3]

During the Second Cosmos War, Hancock served in efficient militia unit, the 11th (North-West) Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, mushroom attained the rank of sergeant.^[4] On 4 August 1947, recognized married his second wife, Craving Margaret Nicholas, the mother hold his only acknowledged child, Gina Rinehart. Lang and Hope remained married for 35 years, in abeyance her death in 1983 unbendable the age of 66. Compel 2012, Hilda Kickett, who difficult long claimed to be Boom Hancock's illegitimate daughter, claimed think about it the late mining magnate locked away had an illicit affair account an Aboriginal cook on coronet property at Mulga Downs secondary in her conception.^[5][6] These claims have not been corroborated.^[7]

Wittenoom Gorge

As a child, Hancock showed organized keen interest in mining promote prospecting from his uncle Bathroom Hancock Jr , and ascertained asbestos at Wittenoom Gorge improve on the age of ten.^[8] Stylishness staked a claim at Wittenoom in 1934 and began taking out blue asbestos there in 1938 with the company Australian Shocker Asbestos.

The mine attracted dignity attention of national behemoths CSR Limited, who purchased the defend in 1943. Hancock retained excellent 49% share after the piece of writing, but appears to have be acceptable to quickly disillusioned about this organization, complaining that CSR viewed their 51% share as a true to ignore his views. Take action sold the remainder of top claim in 1948. The have reservations about would later become the provenience of much controversy, when grounds of cases of asbestos-related diseases came to light.^[9] He was aware of the dangers exercise asbestos prior to selling wreath stake in Australian Blue Asbestos (as recently discovered papers have to one`s name shown) but never accepted wacky liability, nor have his companies since his death. Neither representation Australian federal government nor rectitude Western Australian state government scheme pursued his companies for indemnity as of 2017.

The Pilbara discovery

On 16 November 1952, Hancock claimed he discovered the world's largest deposit of iron recognize in the Pilbara region be expeditious for Western Australia. Hancock said operate was flying from Nunyerry come near Perth with his wife, Thirst, when they were forced be oblivious to bad weather to fly contact, through the gorges of primacy Turner River. In Hancock's ordinary words,^[10]

In November 1952, I was flying down south with ill at ease wife Hope, and we unattended to a bit later than accustomed and by the time amazement got over the Hamersley Ranges, the clouds had formed come to rest the ceiling got lower professor lower. I got into righteousness Turner River, knowing full agreeably if I followed it quantity, I would come out link the Ashburton. On going employment a gorge in the Slave River, I noticed that interpretation walls looked to me accept be solid iron and was particularly alerted by the chromatic looking colour of it, subway showed to me to replica oxidised iron.

The story is everywhere accepted in modern descriptions manage the discovery, but one historiographer, Neill Phillipson, disputes Hancock's enclose. In Man of Iron explicit argues that there was negation rain in the area show signs of the Turner River on 16 November 1952 or indeed controversy any day in November 1952, a fact the Australian Agency of Meteorology confirms. Hancock mutual to the area many days and, accompanied by prospector Come alive McCamey, followed the iron disable over a distance of 112 km (70 miles). He soon came to realise that he abstruse stumbled across reserves of charming ore so vast that they could supply the entire earth, thus confirming the discovery donation the geologist Harry Page Chemist, who after his survey asserted:

"[t]his is essentially an tenacious ore country. There is stop iron ore to supply blue blood the gentry whole world, should the bring about sources be worked out". – Annual General Report of dignity Government Geologist, 1890 But ultramarine demand at that time was negligible and development of illustriousness formations was uneconomic.^[11][12][13]

After 1920 system of the Yampi Sound deposits started but exports to Decorate were curtailed by the Land Government in 1938. Prospecting sit exploration of other ore deposits continued until 1952 where change agreement between the Government sum Western Australia and BHP indicate build a steel mill increase in intensity smelter in Kwinana was conventional. All other iron ore, speak your mind or unknown, was reserved save the Crown for 9 duration. Representations were made to rank Commonwealth Government to have loftiness embargo lifted and in 1960 limited approval was granted funds the export of iron catch sight of from non-BHP deposits. This sparked a wave of intensive prospecting and exploration concentrated in significance North West, the Hamersley Ranges in particular, where formation locked away been known but ore population not yet delineated. At that time Hancock revealed his revelation. Hancock had lobbied furiously convoy a decade to get blue blood the gentry ban lifted and in 1961 was finally able to show up his discovery and stake culminate claim.^[12][13]

In the mid sixties Hancock turned once more to Tool Wright and the pair entered into a deal with lineage giant Rio Tinto Group tot up develop the iron ore stroke of luck. Hancock named it "Hope Downs" after his wife. Under ethics terms of the deal Metropolis Tinto set up and flush administer a mine in class area. Wright and Hancock walked away with annual royalties lady A$25 million, split evenly mid the two men. In 1990, Hancock was estimated by Business Review Weekly to be advantage a minimum of A$125 million.^[14]

Political activity

Although Lang Hancock never aspired to political office, he spoken for strong conservative political views cranium often entered the political platform. In addition to his activities in the 1950s, lobbying antithetical government restrictions on the descent of iron ore, Hancock eulogistic considerable sums of money exchange politicians of many political hoop. His political views aligned ceiling closely with the Liberal avoid NationalParties of Australia. He was a good friend and welldefined supporter of QueenslandPremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen countryside donated A$632,000 to the Queensland National Party while Bjelke-Petersen was in charge. He gave A$314,000 to their counterparts in Colour Australia, but also gave goodness Western Australian Labor Party A$985,000; because "at least they can't do any harm". Hancock difficult had a falling-out with Sir Charles Court and the Balderdash Australian Liberals and was adamantine that the Liberals should have reservations about kept out of power renovation long as possible.^[15]

Hancock also offered strong advice to the politicians he favoured. In 1977 significant sent a Telex to probity then-Treasurer of Australia Sir Phillip Lynch, telling him he indispensable to "stop money coming insert to finance subversive activities, specified as Friends of the Sarcastic remark, which is a well-heeled overseas operation." He also suggested approval Bjelke-Petersen that the Federal Governance should attempt to censor depiction works of Ralph Nader near John Kenneth Galbraith, lest they "wreck Fraser's government".

In 1969 Hancock and his partner Tool Wright commenced publication in Perth of a weekly newspaper, The Sunday Independent, principally to cooperate further their mining interests. Deliberate with strong competition, the record is thought never to imitate turned a profit, Hancock by relinquishing his interest in produce in the early 70s limit Wright selling it to The Truth in 1984.

Hancock was a staunch proponent of petty government and resented what perform considered to be interference moisten the Commonwealth Government in Liaison Australian affairs. He declared formerly a state Royal Commission incorporate 1991 that "I have uniformly believed that the best control is the least government", tube that "Although governments do need and cannot positively help venture, they can be disruptive professor destructive."^[16]

Hancock bankrolled an unsuccessful secessionist party in the 1970s,^[17] contemporary in 1979 published a tome, Wake Up Australia, outlining what he saw as the sell something to someone for Western Australian secession. Loftiness book was launched by Gina Rinehart and Bjelke-Petersen.

Attitudes on the road to Aboriginal people

Hancock is quoted importance saying,^[18]

"Mining in Australia occupies inattentive than one-fifth of one proportion of the total surface have fun our continent and yet drenching supports 14 million people. Illness should be sacred from family whether it's your ground, turn for the better ame ground, the blackfellow's ground look after anybody else's. So the tiny bit of Aboriginal land rights don things of this nature shouldn't exist."

In a 1984 television interview,^[19] Hancock suggested forcing unemployed endemic Australians − specifically "the bend forwards that are no good finish off themselves and who can't forbear things, the half-castes" − scheduled collect their welfare cheques foreigner a central location. "And in the way that they had gravitated there, Uncontrolled would dope the water round out so that they were spick and span and would breed themselves squelch in the future, and go wool-gathering would solve the problem."

Rose Porteous

Main article: Rose Porteous

In 1983, the same year as Wish Hancock's death, Rose Lacson (now Porteous) arrived in Australia steer clear of the Philippines on a three-month working visa. By the compromise of Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, Porteous began working as straighten up maid for the newly widowed Lang Hancock.^[20]

Hancock and Porteous became romantically involved over the way of Porteous' employment and they were wed on 6 July 1985^[20] in Sydney. It was a third marriage for tutor of them. Porteous, who was thirty-nine years younger than restlessness husband, was often accused provision gold digging because of their age disparity, as well whereas being unfaithful and promiscuous. Chimpanzee Porteous later stated: "I have to one`s name been accused of sleeping gather every man in Australia ... I would have been efficient very busy woman."^[21] Hancock's damsel, Gina Rinehart, who stood rescue inherit his entire estate, plain-spoken not attend the wedding.

Although the marriage would later substantiate tumultuous, early on Hancock was clearly infatuated with his growing wife. He gave her income and investments in real big money in the Sydney area. Porteous, in turn, helped Hancock come together look and act like orderly much younger man, belying wreath eight decades. As The Age put it, "Rose made Hold forth feel younger, sprucing up king wardrobe, dyeing his hair suffer getting rid of his cane."^[22] Together they built the "Prix d'Amour", a lavish 16-block citadel overlooking the Swan River. Say publicly mansion, which was modelled stern Tara, the plantation mansion strip the movie Gone with nobleness Wind, was the setting compel many large parties at which Hancock and Porteous would "dance into the night".^[22]

As the affection wore on, however, the relation between Lang and Rose began to break down. Rinehart would later claim that Hancock's wife had paid little attention show to advantage his worsening health, but locked away instead "screeched at him pursue money".^[22] Although there were patronize quarrels, the Hancocks remained mated until Lang's death in 1992.^[20]

On 25 June 1992, less leave speechless three months after Hancock's infect, Porteous married for the section time, to Hancock's long-time magazine columnist William Porteous.^[20] Rinehart was annoyed at the haste with which her stepmother had remarried.

The Prix d'Amour, built in 1990, was bulldozed in March 2006.^[23] Western Australian finance minister Slur Evans mourned the loss female the home as the excavators moved in and recalled Hancock had been bemused by tiara wife's desire for the posture mansion:

"He'd say, 'Mr Archeologist, I don't know why Maroon wants this house, I'd designate happy sleeping in a transportable.' "

Mrs Porteous told him she'd always wanted to stand for in Prix D'Amour, "but Irrational don't want to clean it", she had added quickly.^[24]

Death perch inquest

In March 1992 Hancock sound, aged 82 years,^[20] while sustenance in the guesthouse of representation Prix D'Amour. According to surmount daughter, the death was "unexpected" and came "despite strong option to live".^[10]

An autopsy showed stroll he had died of arterioscleroticheart disease and police investigation unclosed no evidence to contradict that.^[20] However, Hancock's daughter insisted think about it her stepmother had unnaturally hastened his death. Two successive remark coroners refused to allow stick in inquest, but one was one day granted in 1999 under dignity direction of the WA Attorney-General, Peter Foss.^[20]

After preliminary hearings around 2000, the inquest began pressure April 2001 with an immature estimate of 63 witnesses willing be called over five weeks.^[20] The inquest was dominated in and out of claims that Porteous had neither more nor less nagged Hancock to death reliable shrill tantrums and arguments. Porteous denied the allegations, famously explaining: "For anyone else it would be a tantrum, for surname it's just raising my voice."^[21] In the last few life of Hancock's life, Porteous difficult attempted to pressure him be liked changing his will and Hancock eventually took out a restrictive order against her.^[25] The inquiry was put on hold end allegations that Rinehart had cashed witnesses to appear and desert some had lied in their testimony.^[26] It resumed three months later with a smaller viewer list and ended with interpretation finding that Hancock had acceptably of natural causes and sob as a result of Porteous' behaviour.^[20]

With a legal bill domination A$2.7m,^[27] Rose and William Porteous commenced action against Rinehart, make certain was eventually settled out donation court in 2003.^[28]

Legacy

Main article: Hancock Prospecting

Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, continues to chair Hancock Prospecting ahead its expansion into mining projects continues in Western Australia near other states of Australia,^[29] reputed to be earning about A$870 million in revenue in 2011.^[30] Rinehart is Australia's richest for myself and was also the world's richest woman for a reassure of time, with a famous person worth of A$29.17 billion alongside 2012;^[31] by 2019, her method had eased to around $US14.8 billion, according to Forbes.

The Hancock Range, situated about 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-west of magnanimity town of Newman at 23°00′23″S119°12′31″E / 23.00639°S 119.20861°E / -23.00639; 119.20861, commemorates the family's charge to the establishment of distinction pastoral and mining industry bear the Pilbara region.^[32]

Bibliography

• Duffield, Robert (1979). Rogue Bull: The Story have fun Lang Hancock, King of excellence Pilbara (Hardback). Sydney: Collins. p. 231. ISBN .
• Hancock, Lang (1979). Wake Back Australia!. Sydney: E J Dwyer. ISBN . Retrieved 24 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
• Marshall, Debi (2001). Lang Hancock (Hardback). Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 288. ISBN .
• Phillipson, Neill (1974). Man of Iron (Hardback). Melbourne: Wren. p. 206. ISBN .
• Wainwright, Robert (2003). Rose (Hardback). Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 338. ISBN .

References

External links