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Peter Cosgrove

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GeneralThe Honourable
Sir Peter Cosgrove
AK,CVO,MC
Cosgrove in 2017
26thGovernor-General of Australia
In office
28 March 2014 – 1 July 2019
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
Preceded byDame Quentin Bryce
Succeeded byDavid Hurley
Administrator of the Commonwealth
In office
30 April 2023 – 10 May 2023
MonarchCharles III
Governor GeneralDavid Hurley
Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese
Personal details
Born
Peter John Cosgrove

(1947-07-28)28 July 1947(age 76)
Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
Spouse(s)Lynne, Lady Cosgrove (néePayne)
Children3
Alma materRoyal Military College, Duntroon
National Defence College, India
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army
Years of service1965–2005
RankGeneral
CommandsChief of the Defence Force(2002–05)
Chief of Army(2000–02)
Land Command Australia(2000)
International Force East Timor(1999–00)
1st Division(1998–99)
6th Brigade(1992–93)
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment(1983–84)
Battles/warsVietnam War
International Force East Timor
AwardsKnight of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Military Cross
Complete list

GeneralSir Peter John Cosgrove,AK,CVO,MC(born 28 July 1947) is an Australian retired seniorArmyofficer who served as the 26thgovernor-general of Australia,in office from 2014 to 2019.

A graduate of theRoyal Military College, Duntroon,Cosgrove fought in theVietnam War,receiving theMilitary Crossin 1971. From 1983 to 1984, he was commander of the1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment,and he later served as commander of the6th Brigadeand the1st Division.Cosgrove rose to prominence in 1999, when he served as commander of theInternational Force for East Timor(INTERFET), which oversaw the peacekeeping mission inEast Timorduring its transition to independence. He is also an alumnus ofNational Defence College, India.

Cosgrove was Australia'sChief of Armyfrom 2000 to 2002 andChief of the Defence Forcefrom 2002 to 2005, receiving corresponding promotions tolieutenant generaland general. Cosgrove retired from active service following the end of his term as Chief of the Defence Force, and subsequently served as leader of a taskforce helping to rebuild communities inQueenslandafterCyclone Larryin 2006. In January 2014, Cosgrove was named to succeedDame Quentin Bryceas Governor-General of Australia. He was sworn in on 28 March 2014 and made aKnight of the Order of Australiaon the same date. Cosgrove retired on 1 July 2019 and was succeeded by GeneralDavid Hurley.

Early life and education[edit]

Viceregal styles of
Sir Peter Cosgrove
(2014–2019)
Reference styleHis Excellency the Honourable
Spoken styleYour Excellency

Cosgrove was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 28 July 1947. He was educated atWaverley Collegein Sydney, then followed his father, awarrant officer,into theAustralian Armyby attending theRoyal Military College, Duntroonin 1965. Cosgrove's uncle,Bill Cosgrove,was a professionalAustralian rules footballplayer, but waskilled in actionwhile serving with theRoyal Australian Air ForceduringWorld War II.[1]Cosgrove class of 1964 spent time inWaverley College's Cadet Unit, as a cadet he was Adjutant CUO P. Cosgrove and tied for the Major General JA Chapman Cane for the most efficient cadet in the Unit. Years later the cadet unit has named an award after Cosgrove, the General Cosgrove Shield (for the most efficient Speciality in the Cadet Unit) each year to honour the achievements of the most senior ranking officer to graduate.

Military service[edit]

Cosgrove at the Centenary of theKangaroo Marchlaunch in 2013.

Cosgrove was appointed a probationary second lieutenant in August 1968 while attached to a regular army unit,[2]and was commissioned a lieutenant on 11 December 1968.[3]He was allotted to theRoyal Australian Infantry.He arrived inSouth Vietnamon 3 August 1969 and was posted to9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regimenton 20 August 1969. On 10 October 1969, Lieutenant Cosgrove was commanding 5 Platoon, B Company. The platoon located an occupied bunker system in an area where, because of the proximity of allied troops, indirect fire support was difficult to obtain. In spite of this, he led his platoon in an assault on the bunkers without indirect fire support, capturing the system and killing and wounding at least four enemy without sustaining any casualties. On 16 October 1969, 5 Platoon located another bunker system occupied by about a platoon of enemy. Lieutenant Cosgrove silently deployed his own platoon for an attack. His assault completely surprised the enemy causing them to flee, abandoning large quantities of food, stores and documents. The following day in the same bunker system a party of enemy approached his right forward section and was engaged by the sentry. Knowing that the remainder of the section was elsewhere on other tasks, Lieutenant Cosgrove ran to the contact area and personally conducted the fight against the enemy. As a result of his actions, two enemy were killed and three weapons and four packs containing rice were captured. He was awarded theMilitary Crossfor these actions.[4][5]

Cosgrove was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 21 September 1970,[6]and was appointed anaide-de-campto the then-Governor-GeneralPaul Hasluckon 20 December 1971.[7]He was promoted to substantive captain on 31 October 1974 (seniority from 13 July),[8]to temporary major on 2 January 1976 and to substantive major on 11 December 1978.[9][10]In 1980 he was awarded theNational Medal,[11]and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 7 December 1981.[12]In the mid-1980s he commanded the1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.[13]

Cosgrove came to national fame in 1999 when, as amajor general,he led the international forces (INTERFET) in a peacekeeping mission toEast Timor.The mission's success made him one of Australia's most respected and popular military leaders.[14]He returned to Australia in 2000 asLand Commander Australia,[15]was promoted tolieutenant generalin July and appointedChief of the Armyand, in 2002, was advanced togeneralasChief of the Defence Force.[16]

In 2004, the Foreign MinisterAlexander Downerqueried the judgement ofFederal Police CommissionerMick Keelty.[17]Following a joint interview with the then Defence MinisterRobert Hill,Cosgrove was accused of "playing politics" when he said that, on this occasion, he disagreed with Keelty's point of view. However, Cosgrove expressed strong support for the Police Commissioner in his Australian best selling autobiography,My Story,published in 2006.[18]On 3 July 2005, Cosgrove's three-year appointment as Chief of the Defence Force was completed, and he was succeeded by then-Chief of Air ForceAir MarshalAngus Houston.

Post-military career[edit]

Cyclone Larry Taskforce[edit]

On 23 March 2006, Cosgrove was selected to lead theQueensland Governmenttaskforce of rebuilding communities damaged byCyclone Larry,aCategory 5tropical cyclone that devastated theInnisfailregion of northernQueensland.[19] "In recognition of the important contribution General Cosgrove made to the community of North Queensland following Cyclone Larry", on 11 October 2008,Queensland PremierAnna Blighannounced that a new residential suburb in theBohle Plainsarea ofTownsvillewould be named Cosgrove, formerly the site of an Abattoir for the cattle sale yards next to it.[20][21][22]

Corporate leadership and community organisations[edit]

Cosgrove served on the board of Australia's main airlineQantasbetween July 2005[23]and January 2014[24]and is on numerous other boards as chairman or member.[citation needed]He served asChancellorof theAustralian Catholic Universitybetween November 2010[25]and January 2014;[26]and is Honorary Patron of theACT Veterans Rugby Club[27]and the Rosies Youth Mission.[28] Peter Cosgrove was appointed as Patron to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association in 2015.

Governor-General[edit]

Swearing in as Governor-General

On 28 January 2014, Prime MinisterTony Abbottannounced that the QueenElizabeth IIhad accepted his advice to appoint Peter Cosgrove as the nextGovernor-General of Australia,to succeedQuentin Brycein late March.[29]On 25 March, Abbott announced that the Queen had also approved the reinstatement of the grade ofKnight or Damein theOrder of Australia(she had abolished it in 1986 on the advice ofBob Hawke), and that governors-general would beex officiothe Principal Knight or Dame of the Order.[30]The incumbent, Quentin Bryce, was immediately made the first new Dame of the Order. On 28 March Cosgrove succeeded Dame Quentin and was sworn in as Governor-General by Chief JusticeRobert French,[31]becoming Sir Peter Cosgrove.[32]Former headmaster of Waverley College, Ray Paxton states "In choosing Sir Peter Cosgrove for Governor General, Australia has honoured a remarkable man". During his time as Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove was a supporter for the Lung Foundation Australia.[33]

Prince Georgewith his parents and Sir Peter Cosgrove atAdmiralty House, Sydney,April 2014

On 16 December 2018 Prime MinisterScott Morrisonannounced that The Queen had approved the appointment of retired GeneralDavid Hurley,the currentGovernor of New South Walesas the next Governor-General of Australia commencing in July 2019, and that Cosgrove's term would be extended until that time to ensure smooth transitions following theNew South Wales electionin March andfederal electionexpected in May 2019.[34]

On 12 August 2019, during a post appointment call uponthe Queen,Cosgrove was appointed aCommander of the Royal Victorian Order.[35]

During theCoronation of Charles III and Camilla,with theGovernor-General of Australiaand all of the state governors in London, Cosgrove served as theAdministrator of the Commonwealthfrom 30 April to 10 May 2023.[36]

Personal life[edit]

Cosgrove married Lynne Payne in 1976;[37]they have three sons[38]and four grandchildren. Cosgrove is a Roman Catholic and frequently attends Mass in theSt Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra.

Cosgrove is a strong supporter and member of theSydney Roosters.He is also a keen follower ofcricketandrugby union.

His memoir,You shouldn't have joined...,was published by Allen & Unwin in 2020.[39]

Lady Cosgrove in 2017

Honours and awards[edit]







Knight of the Order of Australia(AK) 28 March 2014 [40][41]
Companion of the Order of Australia(AC) 25 March 2000
(Military division)		 For eminent service to the Australian Defence Force as the Commander of the International Force East Timor[14]
Member of the Order of Australia(AM) 26 January 1985
(Military division)		 In recognition of service as Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment[13]
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order(CVO) 12 August 2019 [35]
Military Cross(MC) 12 February 1971 Infantry – 9 RAR – Vietnam[5][42]
Knight of the Order of St John 28 March 2014 [40][43]
Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 with Vietnam clasp
Vietnam Medal [44]
Australian Active Service Medal with East Timor clasp[44]
International Force East Timor Medal (INTERFET)[44]
Australian Service Medal 1945–1975 [44]
Centenary Medal 1 January 2001 For service to Australian society as Chief of the Defence Force[16]
Defence Force Service Medalwith Federation Star 40–44 years service[44]
National Medal 16 October 1980 For diligent long service to the community in hazardous circumstances, including in times of emergency and national disaster, in direct protection of life and property[44]
Australian Defence Medal [44]
Vietnam Campaign Medal Republic of Vietnam[44]
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit 5 June 2000 New Zealand[45]
Commander of the Legion of Merit United States[44]
Tong-il Medal of the Order of National Security Merit South Korea[44]
Officer of the Legion of Honour France[44]
Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry 28 May 2002 Portugal[46]
Distinguished Service Order 7 September 2004 Singapore[47]
Collar of theOrder of Timor-Leste 30 August 2009 Timor-Leste[48]
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great 7 February 2013 Holy See[49]
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga 3 July 2015 Tonga[50]
Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín 9 August 2016 Argentina[51]
Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty 6 July 2018 Portugal[52]
Infantry Combat Badge
Other awards
Australian of the Year 26 January 2001 He accepted his Australian of the Year award on behalf of all those Australians who served in East Timor: "I did a lot of the talking, they did all the working."[53]

Honorary appointments[edit]

Honorary degrees[edit]

Victoria:

Named in his honour[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Lees, Justin (22 April 2017)."Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove's mischievous 'uncle Bill' a beloved World War II hero".Herald Sun.Archivedfrom the original on 21 April 2024.
  2. ^"Royal Military College - Corps of Staff Cadets".Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.No. 72. 29 August 1968. p. 4853.Archived(PDF)from the original on 21 April 2024.Retrieved21 June2019– via Trove.
  3. ^"Australian Regular Army".Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.No. 19. 27 February 1969. p. 1253.Archived(PDF)from the original on 21 April 2024.Retrieved21 June2019.
  4. ^"Text of Citation for award of Military Cross to Lieutenant Peter J. Cosgrove"(PDF).9 RAR Association.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 18 February 2017.Retrieved22 January2017.
  5. ^ab"No. 45302".The London Gazette.12 February 1971. p. 1343.
  6. ^"Australian Regular Army".Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.No. 97. 5 November 1970. p. 7385.Retrieved21 June2019.
  7. ^"Australian Regular Army".Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.No. 3. 20 January 1972. p. 13.Retrieved21 June2019.
  8. ^"Australian Military Forces".Australian Government Gazette, General.No. G2. 14 January 1975. p. 39.Retrieved21 June2019.
  9. ^"Australian Regular Army".Australian Government Gazette, General (National).No. G45. 18 November 1975. p. 20.Retrieved21 June2019.
  10. ^"Australian Regular Army".Australian Government Gazette, General (National).No. G9. 6 March 1979. p. 26.Retrieved21 June2019.
  11. ^"Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: National Medal".It's an Honour.Commonwealth of Australia.16 October 1980.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2019.Retrieved12 July2013.
  12. ^"Australian Regular Army".Australian Government Gazette, General (National).No. G3. 19 January 1982. p. 30.Retrieved21 June2019.
  13. ^ab"Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: Member of the Order of Australia".It's an Honour.Commonwealth of Australia.26 January 1985.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2019.Retrieved30 June2019.
  14. ^ab"Search: Cosgrove, Peter John: Companion of the Order of Australia".It's an Honour.Commonwealth of Australia.25 March 2000.Archivedfrom the original on 29 January 2019.Retrieved4 August2018.
  15. ^Barker, Geoffrey (2 May 2000)."General Cosgrove to be New Army Chief".Financial Review.Retrieved23 August2021.
  16. ^ab"Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: Centenary Medal".It's an Honour.Commonwealth of Australia.1 January 2001.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2019.
  17. ^Grattan, Michelle;Forbes, Mark (18 March 2004)."Honest copper emerges victor".The Age.During a "doorstop" interview, Downer said Mr Keelty was "expressing a view which reflects a lot of the propaganda we're getting from al-Qaeda"
  18. ^Cosgrove, Peter John (2006).My Story.Australia:HarperCollins.ISBN0-7322-8384-1.
  19. ^Beattie, Peter(23 March 2006)."General Cosgrove to lead Cyclone Larry taskforce"(Press release).Premier of Queensland.Retrieved12 October2013.
  20. ^"Townsville suburb named in honour of General Cosgrove".ABC News.Australia. 11 October 2008.Retrieved11 October2008.
  21. ^Ryan, Lendl (11 October 2008)."Townsville" Cosgrove "storm".Townsville Bulletin.News Limited.Retrieved11 October2008.
  22. ^"Townsville suburb named after Cosgrove".The Sydney Morning Herald.AAP.11 October 2008.Retrieved11 October2008.
  23. ^"Board of Directors".Annual Report.Qantas Limited.2013. p. 51. Archived fromthe originalon 27 January 2014.Retrieved28 January2014.
  24. ^"Resignation of General Peter Cosgrove"(Press release).Qantas Limited.28 January 2014.Retrieved28 January2014.
  25. ^"General Peter Cosgrove appointed Chancellor of ACU".Australian Catholic University.25 May 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 27 November 2012.Retrieved12 July2013.
  26. ^"General Peter Cosgrove Australia's Next Governor-General".Catholic Communications.Archdiocese of Sydney. 28 January 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 4 October 2017.Retrieved2 February2014.
  27. ^"ACT Veterans Rugby".Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2014.
  28. ^Rosies Youth Mission. Inc."Organisational Structure".Retrieved21 May2014.
  29. ^Governor-General-designate to be sworn inArchived27 February 2014 at theWayback Machine– Office of the Prime Minister of Australia, 24 February 2014.
  30. ^"'Pre-eminent' Australians could be made Knight or Dame under a new award, PM Tony Abbott says ".ABC News. 25 March 2014.
  31. ^"Former Defence Force Chief General Peter Cosgrove sworn in as Australia's 26th Governor General".news.au.28 March 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2016.Retrieved19 November2015.
  32. ^"Peter Cosgrove announced as next Governor-General".News.au.AAP.28 January 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 1 October 2016.Retrieved28 January2014.
  33. ^"Governor-General LFA Reception 2018 | Admiralty House | Executive Images Photography & Video".Executive Images.Retrieved10 January2024.
  34. ^Crowe, David (16 December 2018)."Scott Morrison picks former general David Hurley to be Australia's next governor-general".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved15 December2018.
  35. ^ab"Court Circular: Balmoral Castle".The Times.13 August 2019.Retrieved18 August2019.
  36. ^Governor-General to attend Coronation and undertake State Visit to Greece
  37. ^"Biographies of Peter and Lynne Cosgrove".Governor-General of Australia.Australian Government. Archived fromthe originalon 29 March 2014.Retrieved30 March2014.
  38. ^"General Peter John Cosgrove, AC, MC".People profiles.Australian War Memorial.Retrieved28 January2014.
  39. ^Cosgrove, Peter (Peter J.) (27 October 2020).You shouldn't have joined...: a memoir.Sydney, N.S.W.ISBN978-1-76087-852-8.OCLC1200259235.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  40. ^abcAutomatic upon taking office as Governor-General
  41. ^"General Peter Cosgrove to be sworn in as governor-general at ceremony in Canberra".ABC News.Australia. 28 March 2014.Retrieved5 May2018.
  42. ^"Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: Military Cross".It's an Honour.12 February 1971.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2019.
  43. ^"Order of St John".London Gazette.19 May 2014.Retrieved24 May2014.
  44. ^abcdefghijkThomsen, Simon."EXECUTIVE LIFE Here Are The Honours Our New Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, AC MC, Already Has".Business Insider Australia.Retrieved12 April2014.
  45. ^"Queen's Birthday honours list 2000 (including special list for East Timor)".Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2000.Retrieved4 July2020.
  46. ^Annual Portuguese Honorary Orders,Foreign citizens 1910–2006,2006, retrieved 19 April 2008, p111.(in Portuguese)Archived14 March 2008 at theWayback Machine
  47. ^MINDEF Singapore,President Nathan Confers Top Military Award on Chief of the Australian Defence Force,7 September 2004. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  48. ^Retired General Peter Cosgrove is presented with the collar of the Order of East Timor by East Timor President, His Excellency, Dr Jose Ramos Horta at the 10th Anniversary of Popular Consultation Awards Ceremony held at the New Presidential Palace in DiliArchived13 February 2014 at theWayback Machine,Defence image gallery – Order of East Timor medal presentations, 4 September 2009
  49. ^"Cardinal Confers Papal Awards on Three Outstanding Australians".Catholic Communications.Archdiocese of Sydney. 7 February 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 16 May 2017.Retrieved2 February2014.
  50. ^ADC, RAAF (5 July 2015)."Visit to Tonga".gg.gov.au.Archived fromthe originalon 28 June 2019.Retrieved19 April2018.
  51. ^"Buenos Aires, Argentina".Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.9 August 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 27 May 2019.Retrieved21 September2016.
  52. ^"Facebook post".Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.6 July 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2022.Retrieved6 July2018.
  53. ^"General Peter Cosgrove AC MC".Australian of the Year 2001.National Australia Day Committee. Archived fromthe originalon 6 August 2020.Retrieved9 February2022.
  54. ^"Understanding the Most Venerable Order of St John"(PDF).St John South Australia.12 December 2014.Retrieved24 August2018.
  55. ^Groves, Sam (25 May 2016)."Address to the Graduates of the Faculty of Engineering".gg.gov.au.Archived fromthe originalon 21 December 2016.Retrieved22 January2017.
  56. ^"Cosgrove – suburb in Townsville City (entry 44586)".Queensland Place Names.Queensland Government.Retrieved24 July2017.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toPeter Cosgrove.
External videos
video iconOne Plus One: Sir Peter Cosgrove,One Plus One,ABC News
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of the Defence Force
2002–2005 		Succeeded by
Air Chief MarshalAngus Houston
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Lieutenant GeneralFrank Hickling
 Chief of Army
2000–2002 		Succeeded by
Lieutenant GeneralPeter Leahy
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Major GeneralJohn Hartley
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2000 		Succeeded by
Major GeneralPeter Abigail
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Major GeneralTim Ford
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1998–1999 		Succeeded by
Major GeneralJim Molan
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