William Gerrand Gibson (19 May 1869 – 22 May 1955) was an Australian politician. He was the first member of the Country Party elected to federal parliament, serving in the House of Representatives (1918–1929, 1931–1934) and as a Senator for Victoria (1935–1947). He was the party's deputy leader from 1923 to 1929 and was a government minister in the Bruce–Page Government. Early life Gibson was born on 19 May 1869 in Gisborne, Victoria. His parents Grace (née Gerrand) and David Gibson were both born in Scotland, and arrived in Victoria in 1860. His younger brother David also became a member of parliament. Gibson was educated locally, and worked with his father for a period before acquiring his own farm. He married Mary Helen Young Paterson on 4 November 1896 at Riddells Creek. As well as farming, Gibson established himself as a merchant, running general stores at Romsey and Lancefield. He was president of the Romsey and West Bourke Agricultural Society and the local branch of the Australian Natives Association. In 1910, Gibson bought a subdivision of Gnarpurt, James Chester Manifold's property near Lismore in the Western District. He subsequently established a successful grazing property, with his brother David taking up land nearby in Cressy. He was elected manager of the Western Plains Co-operative Society in 1911. Politics Early career In 1911 Gibson was elected secretary of the Lismore branch of the People's Party. In 1916, Victorian farmers became suspicious of price-fixing of the price of wheat under the War Precautions Act 1914 and established the Victorian Farmers' Union in response and Gibson was elected secretary of its Lismore branch. His brother, David Havelock (Harvey), won the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Grenville for the union in 1917. At a 1918 by-election, he won the federal seat of Corangamite for the Farmers' Union, defeating James Scullin on preferences. It was the first win for what would become the Country Party. In February 1920, when parliament resumed after the 1919 federal election, Gibson chaired the inaugural meeting of the parliamentary Country Party, which saw William McWilliams elected unopposed as leader. Government minister He successfully pressed for regulated wheat and dairy prices to be raised until the abolition of price controls in 1921. He was Postmaster-General from 1923 to 1929, and encouraged the construction of telephone lines, the extension of roadside mail deliveries and the building of post offices in country districts. He