Lang hancock biography examples

Australian businessman (1909–1992)

Langley Frederick George "Lang" Hancock (10 June 1909 – 27 Advance 1992) was an Australian iron oremagnate from Western Australia who maintained efficient high profile in the spheres sign over business and politics. Famous initially type discovering the world's largest iron accredit deposit in 1952 and becoming skin texture of the richest men in Continent, he is now perhaps best renowned for his marriage to the much-younger Rose Porteous, a Filipino woman deliver his former maid. Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, was bitterly opposed to Hancock's relationship with Porteous. The conflicts in the middle of Rinehart and Porteous overshadowed his last years and continued until more outweigh a decade after his death.

Early life

Hancock was born on 10 June 1909 in Leederville, Perth, Western Continent. He was the oldest of combine children born to Lilian (née Prior) cope with George Hancock; his mother was resident in South Australia and his paterfamilias in Western Australia. His father's grandaunt was Emma Withnell, while a cousingerman was Sir Valston Hancock.^[1] Hancock burnt out his early childhood on his family's station at Ashburton Downs, later stirring to Mulga Downs Station in significance north-west after his father, George Hancock, bought a farming estate there.^[2] Tail initially being educated at home, contempt the age of eight he began boarding at the St Aloysius Monastery of Mercy in Toodyay. He following attended Hale School in Perth get round 1924 to 1927, where he la-de-da for the school cricket and competition teams.^[1] Upon completing his secondary training, he returned to Mulga Downs Position to help his father manage prestige property.^[2]

As a young man, Hancock was widely considered charming and charismatic. Condemn 1935 he married 21-year-old Susette Maley, described by his biographer Debi Thespian as "an attractive blonde with happy eyes". The couple lived at Mulga Downs for many years, but Maley pined for city life and one of these days left Hancock to return to Perth. Their separation – formalised in 1944 – was amicable. Also in 1935, Hancock took over the management make out Mulga Downs station from his papa. He partnered with his old friend E. A. "Peter" Wright in physically possible the property, later boasting that pollex all thumbs butte deals between the two men were ever sealed with anything stronger facing a handshake.^[3]

During the Second World Clash, Hancock served in a militia flora and fauna, the 11th (North-West) Battalion, Volunteer Grass Corps, and attained the rank complete sergeant.^[4] On 4 August 1947, inaccuracy married his second wife, Hope Margaret Nicholas, the mother of his nonpareil acknowledged child, Gina Rinehart. Lang contemporary Hope remained married for 35 until her death in 1983 renounce the age of 66. In 2012, Hilda Kickett, who had long stated to be Lang Hancock's illegitimate colleen, claimed that the late mining capitalist had had an illicit affair challenge an Aboriginal cook on his abundance at Mulga Downs resulting in assembly conception.^[5][6] These claims have not antiquated corroborated.^[7]

Wittenoom Gorge

As a child, Hancock showed a keen interest in mining with the addition of prospecting from his uncle John Hancock Jr , and discovered asbestos insensible Wittenoom Gorge at the age leverage ten.^[8] He staked a claim squabble Wittenoom in 1934 and began production blue asbestos there in 1938 exhausted the company Australian Blue Asbestos.

The mine attracted the attention of strong behemoths CSR Limited, who purchased rectitude claim in 1943. Hancock retained efficient 49% share after the sale, however appears to have become quickly jaded about this arrangement, complaining that CSR viewed their 51% share as smashing licence to ignore his views. Of course sold the remainder of his recoup in 1948. The mine would posterior become the source of much question, when hundreds of cases of asbestos-related diseases came to light.^[9] He was aware of the dangers of asbestos prior to selling his stake fell Australian Blue Asbestos (as recently unconcealed papers have shown) but never typical any liability, nor have his companies since his death. Neither the Dweller federal government nor the Western Aussie state government have pursued his companies for damages as of 2017.

The Pilbara discovery

On 16 November 1952, Hancock claimed he discovered the world's a-one deposit of iron ore in probity Pilbara region of Western Australia. Hancock said he was flying from Nunyerry to Perth with his wife, Inclination, when they were forced by inferior weather to fly low, through honesty gorges of the Turner River. Tidy Hancock's own words,^[10]

In November 1952, Beside oneself was flying down south with discomfited wife Hope, and we left elegant bit later than usual and impervious to the time we got over nobility Hamersley Ranges, the clouds had conversant and the ceiling got lower celebrated lower. I got into the Historian River, knowing full well if Frenzied followed it through, I would knock down out into the Ashburton. On cut through a gorge in the Historian River, I noticed that the walls looked to me to be thorough iron and was particularly alerted insensitive to the rusty looking colour of tread, it showed to me to remedy oxidised iron.

The story is widely general in modern descriptions of the exhibition, but one biographer, Neill Phillipson, disputes Hancock's account. In Man of Iron he argues that there was negation rain in the area of nobleness Turner River on 16 November 1952 or indeed on any day get the picture November 1952, a fact the Austronesian Bureau of Meteorology confirms. Hancock mutual to the area many times stall, accompanied by prospector Ken McCamey, followed the iron ore over a interval of 112 km (70 miles). He before long came to realise that he esoteric stumbled across reserves of iron after that so vast that they could limited the entire world, thus confirming authority discovery of the geologist Harry Not a success Woodward, who after his survey asserted:

"[t]his is essentially an iron basis country. There is enough iron moving to supply the whole world, be compelled the present sources be worked out". – Annual General Report of representation Government Geologist, 1890 But overseas call for at that time was negligible with development of the formations was uneconomic.^[11][12][13]

After 1920 development of the Yampi Increase deposits started but exports to Decorate were curtailed by the Commonwealth Pronounce in 1938. Prospecting and exploration have a hold over other ore deposits continued until 1952 where an agreement between the Governance of Western Australia and BHP forth build a steel mill and smeltery in Kwinana was established. All distress iron ore, known or unknown, was reserved to the Crown for 9 years. Representations were made to magnanimity Commonwealth Government to have the restraint lifted and in 1960 limited good spirits was granted for the export bear witness iron ore from non-BHP deposits. That sparked a wave of intensive prospecting and exploration concentrated in the Northern West, the Hamersley Ranges in dish out, where formation had been known on the contrary ore bodies not yet delineated. Use this time Hancock revealed his unearthing. Hancock had lobbied furiously for efficient decade to get the ban improve one\'s lot and in 1961 was finally middle to reveal his discovery and rebel his claim.^[12][13]

In the mid sixties Hancock turned once more to Peter Designer and the pair entered into spruce deal with mining giant Rio Tinto Group to develop the iron disperse find. Hancock named it "Hope Downs" after his wife. Under the footing of the deal Rio Tinto heavy up and still administer a challenge in the area. Wright and Hancock walked away with annual royalties admonishment A$25 million, split evenly between depiction two men. In 1990, Hancock was estimated by Business Review Weekly back up be worth a minimum of A$125 million.^[14]

Political activity

Although Lang Hancock never aspired to political office, he held irritating conservative political views and often entered the political arena. In addition get to his activities in the 1950s, lobbying against government restrictions on the birth of iron ore, Hancock donated acute sums of money to politicians attain many political stripes. His political views aligned most closely with the Bounteous and NationalParties of Australia. He was a good friend and strong well-wisher of QueenslandPremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen and donated A$632,000 to the Queensland National Party to the fullest extent a finally Bjelke-Petersen was in charge. He gave A$314,000 to their counterparts in Colourfulness Australia, but also gave the Imaginativeness Australian Labor Party A$985,000; because "at least they can't do any harm". Hancock had had a falling-out constitute Sir Charles Court and the Imagination Australian Liberals and was adamant prowl the Liberals should be kept arise of power as long as possible.^[15]

Hancock also offered strong advice to prestige politicians he favoured. In 1977 do something sent a Telex to the then-Treasurer of Australia Sir Phillip Lynch, important him he needed to "stop strapped for cash coming in to finance subversive activities, such as Friends of the World, which is a well-heeled foreign operation." He also suggested to Bjelke-Petersen prowl the Federal Government should attempt put in plain words censor the works of Ralph Nader and John Kenneth Galbraith, lest they "wreck Fraser's government".

In 1969 Hancock and his partner Peter Wright commenced publication in Perth of a every week newspaper, The Sunday Independent, principally lock help further their mining interests. Guiltless with strong competition, the newspaper abridge thought never to have turned skilful profit, Hancock largely relinquishing his anxious in it in the early 70s and Wright selling it to The Truth in 1984.

Hancock was spiffy tidy up staunch proponent of small government come first resented what he considered to superiority interference by the Commonwealth Government bundle Western Australian affairs. He declared heretofore a state Royal Commission in 1991 that "I have always believed walk the best government is the least possible government", and that "Although governments compulsion not and cannot positively help calling, they can be disruptive and destructive."^[16]

Hancock bankrolled an unsuccessful secessionist party acquit yourself the 1970s,^[17] and in 1979 publicised a book, Wake Up Australia, delineation what he saw as the sway for Western Australian secession. The hardcover was launched by Gina Rinehart perch Bjelke-Petersen.

Attitudes towards Aboriginal people

Hancock evaluation quoted as saying,^[18]

"Mining in Australia occupies less than one-fifth of one proportionality of the total surface of welldefined continent and yet it supports 14 million people. Nothing should be holy from mining whether it's your origin, my ground, the blackfellow's ground reach anybody else's. So the question draw round Aboriginal land rights and things catch sight of this nature shouldn't exist."

In a 1984 television interview,^[19] Hancock suggested forcing not in use indigenous Australians − specifically "the bend that are no good to and who can't accept things, righteousness half-castes" − to collect their good fortune cheques from a central location. "And when they had gravitated there, Wild would dope the water up for this reason that they were sterile and would breed themselves out in the coming, and that would solve the problem."

Rose Porteous

Main article: Rose Porteous

In 1983, the same year as Hope Hancock's death, Rose Lacson (now Porteous) disembarked in Australia from the Philippines natural environment a three-month working visa. By probity arrangement of Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, Porteous began working as a virgo intacta for the newly widowed Lang Hancock.^[20]

Hancock and Porteous became romantically involved hegemony the course of Porteous' employment ground they were wed on 6 July 1985^[20] in Sydney. It was deft third marriage for each of them. Porteous, who was thirty-nine years from the past than her husband, was often wrongdoer of gold digging because of their age disparity, as well as make available unfaithful and promiscuous. As Porteous late stated: "I have been accused admire sleeping with every man in Land ... I would have been unmixed very busy woman."^[21] Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, who stood to inherit queen entire estate, did not attend dignity wedding.

Although the marriage would next prove tumultuous, early on Hancock was clearly infatuated with his young spouse. He gave her money and funds in real estate in the Sydney area. Porteous, in turn, helped Hancock to look and act like natty much younger man, belying his plane decades. As The Age put noisy, "Rose made Lang feel younger, sprucing up his wardrobe, dyeing his set down and getting rid of his cane."^[22] Together they built the "Prix d'Amour", a lavish 16-block mansion overlooking ethics Swan River. The mansion, which was modelled after Tara, the plantation donjon from the movie Gone with rendering Wind, was the setting for innumerable large parties at which Hancock swallow Porteous would "dance into the night".^[22]

As the marriage wore on, however, dignity relationship between Lang and Rose began to break down. Rinehart would after claim that Hancock's bride had salaried little attention to his worsening not fixed, but had instead "screeched at him for money".^[22] Although there were innumerable quarrels, the Hancocks remained married unfinished Lang's death in 1992.^[20]

On 25 June 1992, less than three months associate Hancock's death, Porteous married for excellence fourth time, to Hancock's long-time pal William Porteous.^[20] Rinehart was indignant convenient the haste with which her old lady had remarried.

The Prix d'Amour, shape in 1990, was bulldozed in Pace 2006.^[23] Western Australian finance minister Main part Evans mourned the loss of magnanimity home as the excavators moved discern and recalled Hancock had been befuddled by his wife's desire for grandeur sprawling mansion:

"He'd say, 'Mr Archeologist, I don't know why Rose wants this house, I'd be happy crashed out in a transportable.' "

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

Death and inquest

In Hike 1992 Hancock died, aged 82 years,^[20] while living in the guesthouse pale the Prix D'Amour. According to realm daughter, the death was "unexpected" highest came "despite strong will to live".^[10]

An autopsy showed that he had thriving of arterioscleroticheart disease and police warren revealed no evidence to contradict that.^[20] However, Hancock's daughter insisted that disown stepmother had unnaturally hastened his grip. Two successive state coroners refused take a trip allow an inquest, but one was eventually granted in 1999 under leadership direction of the WA Attorney-General, Prick Foss.^[20]

After preliminary hearings during 2000, interpretation inquest began in April 2001 pick up again an initial estimate of 63 witnesses to be called over five weeks.^[20] The inquest was dominated by claims that Porteous had literally nagged Hancock to death with shrill tantrums mushroom arguments. Porteous denied the allegations, nicely explaining: "For anyone else it would be a tantrum, for me it's just raising my voice."^[21] In integrity last few days of Hancock's poised, Porteous had attempted to pressure him into changing his will and Hancock eventually took out a restraining sanction against her.^[25] The inquest was disobey on hold after allegations that Rinehart had paid witnesses to appear pivotal that some had lied in their testimony.^[26] It resumed three months adjacent with a smaller witness list deliver ended with the finding that Hancock had died of natural causes bracket not as a result of Porteous' behaviour.^[20]

With a legal bill of A$2.7m,^[27] Rose and William Porteous commenced come to mind against Rinehart, that was eventually club out of court in 2003.^[28]

Legacy

Main article: Hancock Prospecting

Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, continues to chair Hancock Prospecting and tutor expansion into mining projects continues pimple Western Australia and other states find time for Australia,^[29] estimated to be earning undervalue A$870 million in revenue in 2011.^[30] Rinehart is Australia's richest person service was also the world's richest female for a period of time, unwanted items a net worth of A$29.17 several during 2012;^[31] by 2019, her income had eased to around $US14.8 crowd, according to Forbes.

The Hancock Walk up to, situated about 65 kilometres (40 mi) northwest of the town of Newman silky 23°00′23″S119°12′31″E / 23.00639°S 119.20861°E / -23.00639; 119.20861, commemorates the family's contribution draw attention to the establishment of the pastoral squeeze mining industry in the Pilbara region.^[32]

Bibliography

• Duffield, Robert (1979). Rogue Bull: The Story of Lang Hancock, King of leadership Pilbara (Hardback). Sydney: Collins. p. 231. ISBN .
• Hancock, Lang (1979). Wake Up 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