Kenneth McIntyre

Kenneth Gordon McIntyre OBE (August 22, 1910–May 20, 2004) was an Australian lawyer, historian and mathematician who is perhaps best known for his controversial book "The Secret Discovery of Australia - Portuguese ventures 200 years before Captain Cook".

McIntyre was born in Geelong, Victoria in 1910 and graduated from Geelong College as Dux of the School in 1926.cite web|title= OBITUARIES Kenneth Gordon McIntyre, OBE 22 Aug 1910 - 20 May 2004 |publisher= The Australian Map Circle Inc. |url= http://australianmapcircle.org.au/newsletter/news92.pdf |accessdate= 2007-09-04] He went on to study Arts and Law at the University of Melbourne and on graduation taught at the University from 1931 to 1945. In 1945 he left his teaching position and took on a legal practice in Box Hill, Melbourne and stood for mayor. He won the election and took a special interest in housing cooperatives. For his work on housing he was awarded an Order of the British Empire.

On retiring from public office in 1956, McIntyre returned to a passion for Portuguese history and undertook his main work on early Portuguese exploration of Australia. "The Secret Discovery of Australia" was published in 1977 and became a well known and contentious book in Australia.cite web |title= Portuguese claims on Australia under siege (22Jan07) |publisher= Geelong Advertiser |url= http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/01/22/1003_opinion.html |accessdate= 2007-09-04] The Portuguese Government awarded McIntyre the "Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator" in 1983 for his work on promoting Portuguese exploration.

Following his death in 2004, McIntyre's family gave to the manuscript collection at the National Library of Australia papers and documents relating to the Portuguese voyages and the early mapping of the western Pacific.cite web |title= Recent Acquisition Highlights (December 2004) - Manuscripts |publisher= National Library of Australia |url= http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/newaq/200412.html |accessdate= 2007-09-04]

McIntyre's interest in mathematics led him to developed a mathematical system for managing the playoff in what was then known as the Victorian Football League. The algorithm developed by McIntyre determines which teams would complete in the Grand Final. Known as the McIntyre System, it was first implemented in 1931 for the VFL and a version of this system was used by the AFL until 2000. The McIntyre Final Eight System is still used by the Australian National Rugby League.

Bibliography

* "The Secret Discovery of Australia : Portuguese ventures 200 years before Captain Cook" (Souvenir Press, 1977) ISBN: 0285623036
* "The Rebello transcripts : Governor Phillip’s Portuguese prelude" (Souvenir Press, 1984) ISBN: 0285626035

ee also

* Mahogany Ship
* Theory of Portuguese discovery of Australia

References

* Obituary in "The Age" 15 June 2004
* [http://australianmapcircle.org.au/newsletter/news92.pdf Obituaries - Kenneth Gordon McIntyre, OBE (22 Aug 1910 - 20 May 2004)] The Australian Map Circle Inc. (Retrieved 4 September 2007)
* [http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/01/22/1003_opinion.html Portuguese claims on Australia under siege (22Jan07)] Geelong Advertiser (Retrieved 4 September 2007)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.skeptics.com.au/journal/2001/1.pdf Criticisms of McIntyre's Claims p31-37 "The Skeptic"]