Steven Kirk
Sir Steven Kirk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Patagonia | |
| In office 20 November 1931 – 31 July 1945 | |
| Monarch | George V George VI |
| Governor-General | Sir James O'Grady Sir Herbert Henniker-Heaton Sir Allan Wolsey Cardinall |
| Preceded by | Andrew McBride |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Tennant |
| Leader of the Patagonian National Party | |
| In office 24 March 1931 – 31 July 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Tennant |
| Member of Parliament for South West Limay | |
| In office 16 February 1925 – 8 August 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Peacock |
| Succeeded by | Jane Willis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 October 1887 Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, United Kingdom |
| Died | 5 July 1975 (aged 87) Barrylochy, Limay, Patagonia |
| Nationality | Patagonian |
| Political party | Patagonian National Party (from 1931) |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (1906–28) Independent (1928–31) |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Mulhern (1909–1911) Hélène Kirk (1920—1975) |
| Children | James · John (adopted) · Olivia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Royal Scots |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Loos (1915) Battle of the Somme (1916) Battle of Arras (1917) Battle of Passchendaele (1917) |
Sir Steven Charles Kirk, PK, KCMG (26 October 1887 – 5 July 1975) was a Patagonian politician, army officer, and writer. He served as the 9th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Patgaonia from 1931 until 1945, winning a record four general elections, and leading the country through two of the major events of its history and of 20th century history: the Great Depression and World War II. Ideologically self-described as "somewhere between a liberal conservative and a conservative liberal", Kirk and the Patagonian National Party he founded dominated and realigned politics in the country: winning two-thirds of general elections since it was founded. He is generally rated by scholars and the public alike as one of the greatest Patagonian prime ministers.
The first half of Kirk's premiership focused on domestic issues, most notably the fallout from the Great Depression. He famously remarked that he would "bend the power of the state to the will of the people" and oversaw significant state intervention in the economy and expansion of social welfare. A committed social and political reformer, Kirk extended the right to vote to the Indigenous Peoples of Patagonia, established the Indigenous Peoples' Assembly, began the quasi-federalisation of Patagonia by devolving powers to provincial assemblies, and enacted constitutional reforms which replaced the appointed upper house of the Patagonian Parliament, the Legislative Council, with a Senate elected by proportional representation, and equalised electorate sizes for the House of Assembly.
Despite dwindling support after nearly a decade in power, Kirk won re-election in landslides following the outbreak of World War Two; which his third and fourth terms went on to be dominated by. He was one of only a handful of national leaders in the Second World War who had served on the front-line in the First World War and, despite his experience during the latter seeing him develop a "disdain for war", he nevertheless overcame his reluctance and committed Patagonia to the Allies' war effort. His speech announcing this in the House of Assembly in October 1939 is considered one of his greatest speeches and a foremost example of his gift for oration. Kirk substantially built up the Patagonian Armed Forces, especially the Royal Patagonian Navy, which went on to serve pivotal roles in the Pacific War and Battle of the Atlantic. By the end of the war, his popularity as a leader had recovered from its pre-WWII slump and, moreover, he was hailed a hero by his political supporters. At the height of this renewed popularity, Kirk retired as Prime Minister in July 1945 though continued as a Member of Parliament until 1955 when he retired entirely from politics. He would go on to refuse all offers to return, including turning down an offer to be appointed Governor-General of Patagonia in 1955.
In his later life, Kirk became a prolific writer. In 1947, he released the highly controversial Each Face, a seminal treatise on Patagonian history and one of the first major publications to use the term "genocide" for the treatment of Patagonia's Indigenous Peoples by European settlers. The book was also highly critical of Hispanic settlement of the Americas, which led to international outcry throughout South America; though Kirk refused to apologise for his remarks. Kirk's popularity recovered with his two autobiographies: 5,000 Days (1956), regarding his tenure as prime minister, particularly during the Second World War, and the critically acclaimed Lost Years (1960), detailing his service in the British Army during the First World War. With the latter, Kirk became one of the first modern world leaders to openly and frankly discuss mental health and "shell shock", today termed post-traumatic stress disorder.
Widely considered one of the 20th century's most overlooked political figures, especially in relation to the Second World War, Kirk nevertheless remains popular in Patagonia, where he is seen as a "man of the people" and victorious wartime leader. Praised as a social reformer and accomplished writer, his works, particularly Lost Years, now form part of the school curriculum in Patagonia. Conversely, his imperialist views and comments on race and religion, as well as public suppression of his mental health issues, have generated considerable controversy. One biographer described his legacy as "complex beyond words"
Early life
Childhood
Born into a working class family in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire on the outskirts of Glasgow, Kirk was the youngest of three children born to Alexander Duncan Kirk (1841–1910) and Margaret Kirk (née Howe; 1853–1924). He had an older brother, Alexander (1883–1959), and an older sister, Hannah (1885–1975). His father, Alexander Duncan Kirk, worked as a shipwright while his mother, Margaret, worked as a governess and, later, a nurse. Although quick witted, imaginative, and highly intelligent, Kirk found formal schooling boring and struggled to concentrate in classes. This led to frequent mediocre performances on tests. He acquired a reputation amongst friends' parents of being disruptive or rebellious. Despite this, he passed his final exams, finishing in the top tier of his class.
Marriages and family
Kirk’s first wife was his childhood friend Eliza Mulhern (1888–1918). They married on 20 August 1909 after she fell pregnant. Their only child, James, was born on 26 February 1910. Kirk’s father died just 5 weeks after James’ birth. Kirk and Mulhern’s marriage was not a happy one and the couple struggled to live with each other, arguing often. In late-1910, the pair separated; permanently so from early-1911, although they did not formally divorce until 1912. By mid-1911, Mulhern moved to Manchester, England where a friend had found work for her. She took James with her, much to Kirk’s protest. He sued for custody but lost as English law at the time favoured a child under-7 remaining with his or her mother. James returned to his father’s custody following Mulhern’s death on 30 January 1918. As Kirk was then recovering from wounds sustained in battle, James was sent to live with Kirk’s mother and sister until the conclusion of the war and Kirk’s return from active duty.
Kirk married for a second time on 3 April 1920, when he wed Belgian national Hélène Lazard. The pair first met in May 1918 in the field hospital in which Lazard worked as a nurse and where Kirk was recuperating from injuries sustained in fighting. Like Kirk, Hélène had previously been married and had a son, Jean (later changed to John). Lazard's first husband, Nikolaas van Houten, was killed in action in 1916. Shortly after their marriage in 1920, the couple mutually adopted one another's sons from their previous marriages. Kirk and Lazard later went on to have a daughter together, Olivia, who was born on 4 April 1921. The pair remained married for over 50 years until Kirk's death in 1975.