Kim Edward Beazley was born in Northam WA on 30 September 1917, the son of Alfred Beazley, a storeman and packer. He was educated at Perth Modern School, Claremont Teachers' College and the University of Western Australia (BA). He also gained an honours MA and honorary LD from the Australian National University.

Mr Beazley taught for the Western Australian Department of Education, at the University of Western Australia and the Claremont Teachers' College. He became an Adult Education Organiser in 1944, the Vice-President of the Teachers' Union of WA, and a Member of the Council of the Australian Teachers' Federation. He entered the ALP through the University Labor Club and became a delegate to the Metropolitan Council and a member of the WA State Executive and finally Senior Vice-President of the ALP from 1969-1971. 

A by-election for the seat of Fremantle (WA) necessitated by the death of John Curtin, brought Kim Beazley into Federal Parliament on 18 August 1945. At that time he was the youngest member of Parliament. During his long parliamentary career he served on various committees and delegations. He was a member of the Council of the Australian National University (1951-1972) and a member of the CSIRO Advisory Council (1965-1972), as well as being the Parliamentary Representative on the Council of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (1964-1972).

From 1967-1972 Mr Beazley was a member of the Labor Party Opposition Executive.  He was Labor Party spokesman on Education from 1967-1972. When the Labor Party came to power in 1972 he became Minister for Education (19 December 1972-11 November 1975) and Executive Councillor on the Federal Executive Council (CA 2).

After the Labor Party lost office in 1975 Mr Beazley entered the 'Shadow Cabinet' as Spokesman on Education and Defence but resigned this position in March 1976.

In 1977 Mr Beazley announced that he would retire from politics at the end of the Parliamentary sitting (4 November 1977). His son, Kim Beazley Jr became the Member for Swan (WA) in the House of Representatives at the election of 18 October 1980. During 1980 and 1981 Beazley Sr was Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of Western Australia and was elected Pro-Chancellor of Murdoch University in August 1981.


References

Australian, 15 October 2007, p 20
Australian Parliamentary Handbook, 1976 Supplement No 1, p 30 
Weekly Hansard, House of Representatives, No, 21, November 1977, p ii
The Canberra Times, 1 September 1977, p 1; 17 March 1976, p 1 
Who's Who in Australia, 1977 p 96
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 129E, 19 December 1972 Commonwealth Government Directory, 1965, 1972, 1977

Agency associated with person unregistered

1953-    : Australian Delegation to the Coronation of Her Majesty
           Queen Elizabeth II - Member
1969-1971: Australian Labor Party - Senior Vice-President