List of premiers of Tasmania by age

Living as of 5 October 2021

Premier	Date of birth	Premier
Tony Rundle	(1939-03-05) 5 March 1939 (age 82)	1996–1998
Robin Gray	(1940-03-01) 1 March 1940 (age 81)	1982–1989
Doug Lowe	(1942-05-15) 15 May 1942 (age 79)	1977–1981
Ray Groom	(1944-09-03) 3 September 1944 (age 77)	1992–1996
Michael Field	(1948-05-28) 28 May 1948 (age 73)	1989–1992
Paul Lennon	(1955-10-08) 8 October 1955 (age 65)	2004–2008
Peter Gutwein	(1964-12-21) 21 December 1964 (age 56)	2020–
David Bartlett	(1968-02-12) 12 February 1968 (age 53)	2008–2011
Will Hodgman	(1969-04-20) 20 April 1969 (age 52)	2014–2020
Lara Giddings	(1972-11-14) 14 November 1972 (age 48)	2011–2014

This is a list of premiers of Tasmania by age, including when they were born, what age they were when they were appointed premier, what age were they when they left the office and the age at which they died, or their current age as of 5 October 2021 if they are still alive. The table can be sorted by each different category.

The date of appointment as premier is the date on which they were sworn in by the Governor for their first term. The day on which they departed office is the final day of their final term. This is either the day a new premier was appointed or their date of death if they died whilst in office.

Overview

The median age of a premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 50 years, and 8 days which falls between John McPhee and Henry Dobson. The youngest person to assume the office was Doug Lowe at 35 years and 200 days. The oldest person to assume office was James Agnew at 70 years and 157 days.

The oldest living former premier is Tony Rundle, born 5 March 1939 (age 82 years, 214 days). The youngest living premier is Lara Giddings, born 14 November 1972, (age 48 years, 325 days).

The longest-lived premier was Angus Bethune who died on 22 August 2004 aged 95 years and 347 days. Adye Douglas was the second longest-lived premier, aged 90 years and 314 days, 5 years and 33 days short of Bethune. Bethune surpassed Douglas' lifespan on 21 July 1999. The oldest living premier, Tony Rundle, will tie Douglas if he lives to 13 January 2030, and tie Bethune if he lives to 22 February 2035. The shortest-lived premier was William Giblin who died at the age of 46 years and 74 days on 17 January 1887.

The premier with the longest retirement is Francis Smith. He left office on 1 November 1860, and died 48 years and 77 days later on 17 January 1909. Doug Lowe left office on 11 November 1981. If he's still alive on 28 December 2029, he will surpass Smith's record, and become the premier with the longest retirement. The premier with the shortest retirement is Jim Bacon, who died on 20 June 2004, 91 days after leaving office on 21 March 2004.

#	Premier	Born	Took office	Age	Left office	Age	Died	Length of retirement	Lifespan
1	William Champ	15 April 1808	1 November 1856	48 years, 200 days	26 February 1857	48 years, 317 days	25 August 1892	35 years, 181 days	84 years, 132 days
2	Thomas Gregson	7 February 1796	26 February 1857	61 years, 19 days	25 April 1857	61 years, 77 days	4 January 1874	16 years, 254 days	77 years, 331 days
3	William Weston	28 November 1804	25 April 1857	52 years, 148 days	2 August 1861	56 years, 247 days	21 February 1888	26 years, 203 days	83 years, 85 days
4	Francis Smith	13 February 1819	12 May 1857	38 years, 88 days	1 November 1860	41 years, 262 days	17 January 1909	48 years, 77 days	89 years, 339 days
5	Thomas Chapman	31 October 1815	2 August 1861	45 years, 275 days	20 January 1863	47 years, 81 days	17 February 1884	21 years, 28 days	68 years, 109 days
6	James Whyte	30 March 1820	20 January 1863	42 years, 296 days	24 November 1866	46 years, 239 days	20 August 1882	15 years, 269 days	62 years, 143 days
7	Richard Dry	20 September 1815	24 November 1866	51 years, 65 days	1 August 1869 [1]	53 years, 315 days	1 August 1869	N/A	53 years, 315 days
8	James Milne Wilson	29 February 1812	4 August 1869	57 years, 157 days	4 November 1872	60 years, 249 days	29 February 1880	7 years, 117 days	68 years, 0 days
9	Frederick Innes	11 August 1816	4 November 1872	56 years, 85 days	4 August 1873	56 years, 358 days	11 May 1882	8 years, 280 days	65 years, 273 days
10	Alfred Kennerley	10 October 1810	4 August 1873	62 years, 298 days	20 July 1876	65 years, 284 days	15 November 1897	21 years, 118 days	87 years, 36 days
11	Thomas Reibey	24 September 1821	20 July 1876	54 years, 300 days	9 August 1877	55 years, 319 days	10 February 1912	34 years, 185 days	90 years, 139 days
12	Philip Fysh	1 March 1835	9 August 1877	42 years, 161 days	17 August 1892	57 years, 169 days	20 December 1919	27 years, 125 days	84 years, 294 days
13	William Giblin	4 November 1840	5 March 1878	37 years, 121 days	15 August 1884	43 years, 285 days	17 January 1887	2 years, 155 days	46 years, 74 days
14	William Crowther	15 April 1817	20 December 1878	61 years, 249 days	30 October 1879	62 years, 198 days	12 April 1885	5 years, 164 days	67 years, 362 days
15	Adye Douglas	31 May 1815	15 August 1884	69 years, 76 days	8 March 1886	70 years, 281 days	10 April 1906	20 years, 33 days	90 years, 314 days
16	James Agnew	2 October 1815	8 March 1886	70 years, 157 days	29 March 1887	71 years, 178 days	8 November 1901	14 years, 224 days	86 years, 37 days
17	Henry Dobson	24 December 1841	17 August 1892	50 years, 237 days	14 April 1894	52 years, 111 days	10 October 1918	24 years, 179 days	76 years, 290 days
18	Edward Braddon	11 June 1829	14 April 1894	64 years, 307 days	12 October 1899	70 years, 123 days	2 February 1904	4 years, 113 days	74 years, 236 days
19	Elliott Lewis	27 October 1858	12 October 1899	40 years, 350 days	14 June 1912	53 years, 231 days	22 September 1935	23 years, 100 days	76 years, 330 days
20	William Propsting	4 June 1861	9 April 1903	41 years, 309 days	12 July 1904	43 years, 38 days	3 December 1937	33 years, 144 days	76 years, 182 days
21	John Evans	1 December 1855	12 July 1904	48 years, 224 days	19 June 1909	53 years, 200 days	2 October 1943	34 years, 105 days	87 years, 305 days
22	John Earle	15 November 1865	20 October 1909	43 years, 339 days	15 April 1916	50 years, 152 days	6 February 1932	15 years, 297 days	66 years, 83 days
23	Albert Solomon	7 March 1876	14 June 1912	36 years, 99 days	6 April 1914	38 years, 30 days	5 October 1914	182 days	38 years, 212 days
24	Walter Lee	27 April 1874	15 April 1916	41 years, 354 days	22 June 1934	60 years, 56 days	1 June 1963	28 years, 344 days	89 years, 35 days
25	John Hayes	21 April 1868	12 August 1922	54 years, 113 days	14 August 1923	55 years, 115 days	12 July 1956	32 years, 333 days	88 years, 82 days
26	Joseph Lyons	15 September 1879	25 October 1923	44 years, 40 days	15 June 1928	48 years, 274 days	7 April 1939	10 years, 296 days	59 years, 204 days
27	John McPhee	4 July 1878	15 June 1928	49 years, 347 days	15 March 1934	55 years, 254 days	14 September 1952	18 years, 183 days	74 years, 72 days
28	Albert Ogilvie	10 March 1890	22 June 1934	44 years, 104 days	10 June 1939 [1]	49 years, 92 days	10 June 1939	N/A	49 years, 92 days
29	Edmund Dwyer-Gray	2 April 1870	11 June 1939	69 years, 70 days	18 December 1939	69 years, 260 days	6 December 1945	5 years, 353 days	75 years, 248 days
30	Robert Cosgrove	28 December 1884	18 December 1939	54 years, 355 days	26 August 1958	73 years, 241 days	25 August 1969	10 years, 364 days	84 years, 240 days
31	Edward Brooker	4 January 1891	18 December 1947	56 years, 348 days	25 February 1948	57 years, 52 days	18 June 1948	114 days	57 years, 166 days
32	Eric Reece	6 July 1909	26 August 1958	49 years, 51 days	31 March 1975	65 years, 268 days	23 October 1999	24 years, 206 days	90 years, 109 days
33	Angus Bethune	10 September 1908	26 May 1969	60 years, 258 days	3 May 1972	63 years, 236 days	22 August 2004	32 years, 111 days	95 years, 347 days
34	Bill Neilson	27 August 1925	31 March 1975	49 years, 216 days	1 December 1977	52 years, 96 days	9 November 1989	11 years, 343 days	64 years, 74 days
35	Doug Lowe	15 May 1942	1 December 1977	35 years, 200 days	11 November 1981	39 years, 180 days		39 years, 328 days	79 years, 143 days
36	Harry Holgate	5 December 1933	11 November 1981	47 years, 341 days	26 May 1982	48 years, 172 days	16 March 1997	14 years, 294 days	63 years, 101 days
37	Robin Gray	1 March 1940	26 May 1982	42 years, 86 days	29 June 1989	49 years, 120 days		32 years, 98 days	81 years, 218 days
38	Michael Field	28 May 1948	29 June 1989	41 years, 32 days	17 February 1992	43 years, 265 days		29 years, 230 days	73 years, 130 days
39	Ray Groom	3 September 1944	17 February 1992	47 years, 167 days	18 March 1996	51 years, 197 days		25 years, 201 days	77 years, 32 days
40	Tony Rundle	5 March 1939	18 March 1996	57 years, 13 days	14 September 1998	59 years, 193 days		23 years, 21 days	82 years, 214 days
41	Jim Bacon	15 May 1950	14 September 1998	48 years, 122 days	21 March 2004	53 years, 311 days	20 June 2004	91 days	54 years, 36 days
42	Paul Lennon	8 October 1955	21 March 2004	48 years, 165 days	26 May 2008	52 years, 231 days		13 years, 132 days	65 years, 362 days
43	David Bartlett	19 January 1968	26 May 2008	40 years, 128 days	24 January 2011	43 years, 5 days		10 years, 254 days	53 years, 259 days
44	Lara Giddings	14 November 1972	24 January 2011	38 years, 71 days	31 March 2014	41 years, 137 days		7 years, 188 days	48 years, 325 days
45	Will Hodgman	20 April 1969	31 March 2014	44 years, 345 days	20 January 2020	50 years, 275 days		1 year, 258 days	52 years, 168 days
46	Peter Gutwein	21 December 1964	20 January 2020	55 years, 30 days	Incumbent	Incumbent		Incumbent	56 years, 288 days

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Oldest living premiers of Tasmania

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 36 deceased premiers, 13 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 23 did not (including both premiers who died in office, and 21 others). Angus Bethune became the oldest living premier when Robert Cosgrove died in 1969 and remained so until his death in 2004 for a record 34 years and 363 days. Francis Smith became the oldest living premier when Adye Douglas died in 1906, but he survived Douglas by only 2 years and 282 days.

On one occasion the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. William Champ lost this distinction when Thomas Gregson was appointed, but when William Weston died in 1888, Champ regained it again until his own death in 1892 for a total period of 4 years and 303 days.

Thomas Reibey was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 87 years and 115 days. Eric Reece, who was aged 90 years and 109 days when he died, on 23 October 1999 was the oldest premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction. Jim Bacon who died on 20 June 2004 aged 54 years and 36 days is the most recent premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction.

Premier	Period when oldest living premier		Age		Duration
	Start date	End date	at start	at end
William Champ	1 November 1856	26 February 1857	48 years, 200 days	48 years, 317 days	117 days
Thomas Gregson	26 February 1857	4 January 1874	61 years, 19 days	77 years, 331 days	16 years, 312 days
William Weston	4 January 1874	21 February 1888	69 years, 37 days	83 years, 85 days	14 years, 48 days
William Champ	21 February 1888	25 August 1892	79 years, 312 days	84 years, 132 days	4 years, 186 days
Alfred Kennerley	25 August 1892	15 November 1897	81 years, 320 days	87 years, 36 days	5 years, 82 days
Adye Douglas	15 November 1897	10 April 1906	82 years, 168 days	90 years, 314 days	8 years, 146 days
Francis Smith	10 April 1906	17 January 1909	87 years, 56 days	89 years, 339 days	2 years, 282 days
Thomas Reibey	17 January 1909	10 February 1912	87 years, 115 days	90 years, 139 days	3 years, 24 days
Philip Fysh	10 February 1912	20 December 1919	76 years, 346 days	84 years, 294 days	7 years, 313 days
John Evans	20 December 1919	2 October 1943	64 years, 19 days	87 years, 305 days	23 years, 286 days
John Hayes	2 October 1943	12 July 1956	75 years, 164 days	88 years, 82 days	12 years, 284 days
Walter Lee	12 July 1956	1 June 1963	82 years, 76 days	89 years, 35 days	6 years, 324 days
Robert Cosgrove	1 June 1963	25 August 1969	78 years, 155 days	84 years, 240 days	6 years, 85 days
Angus Bethune	25 August 1969	22 August 2004	60 years, 349 days	95 years, 347 days	34 years, 363 days
Tony Rundle	22 August 2004	Current oldest living premier	65 years, 170 days	Current oldest living premier	17 years, 44 days
Premier	Start date	End date	Age at start	Age at end	Duration

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See also

• Premier of Tasmania
• List of premiers of Tasmania by time in office
• List of prime ministers of Australia by age
• List of premiers of New South Wales by age
• List of premiers of Queensland by age
• List of premiers of South Australia by age
• List of premiers of Victoria by age
• List of premiers of Western Australia by age

References

1. Died in office on this date.
2. Updated daily according to UTC.
3. Updated daily according to UTC.