He was educated at the University of Sydney, where he earned a degree in law. After practicing as a solicitor in Sydney he enlisted in the Australian Army in 1939 and rose to the rank of major. He served in the House of Representatives for Lowe (New South Wales) from 1949 to 1982. He held various ministerial posts in Liberal governments throughout the 1950s and '60s and headed the Treasury (1966–69) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1969–71). After having served as deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 1966 to 1971, he replaced John Gorton as both party leader and prime minister in March of the latter year. He failed to save his party from defeat by the Labor Party in the next elections in late 1972. He was knighted in 1977.