Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Albert Facey

Role / Field:

Australian writer and World War I veteran, best known for 'A Fortunate Life'.

Born:

1894-08-31

Died:

1982-02-11

Century / Era:

1894s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Albert Barnett Facey (31 August 1894 – 11 February 1982), publishing as A. B. Facey, was an Australian writer and World War I veteran, whose main work was his autobiography, A Fortunate Life, now considered a classic of Australian literature. As of 2020, it has sold over one million copies and was the subject of a television mini-series.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Facey was born in Maidstone, Victoria, the son of Joseph Facey and Mary Ann Facey, née Carr. In 1896, when Albert was two years old, his father died of typhoid fever on the Kalgoorlie goldfields in Western Australia. In 1898, Albert's mother left for Western Australia to care for her older children, who had accompanied their father to the goldfields, leaving her younger children, including Albert, in the care of their grandmother. His grandfather died in 1898 and, a year later, the grandmother, Jane Carr (née Barnett), moved from Barkers Creek near Castlemaine, Victoria, to Kalgoorlie, with Albert and his siblings, Roy (born 1890), Eric (born 1889) and Myra (born 1892). Facey began his working life around 1902, aged eight, and hardly ever lived with his family again.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was never able to attend school, but managed to teach himself to...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolphe Sax — Contemporary (Died in 1894) (1894): Belgian inventor who created the saxophone and revolutionized wind instruments.
• Aldous Huxley — Contemporary (Born in 1894) (1894): English writer and philosopher known for social satire and mystical explorations.
• Alfred Kinsey — Contemporary (Born in 1894) (1894): Pioneering sexologist whose research fundamentally shaped modern understanding of human sexuality.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Contemporary (Born in 1982) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• Alan Ritchson — Contemporary (Born in 1982) (1982): American actor known for roles in Reacher, Titans, and superhero franchises.
• Albert Soboul — Contemporary (Died in 1982) (1982): Influential French historian specializing in the French Revolution and Napoleonic eras.
• Ada Yonath — Shared historical date (08-31 · Died) (2026): Pioneering crystallographer known for elucidating the structure and function of the ribosome.
• Adolphe Pégoud — Shared historical date (08-31 · Died) (1915): Pioneering French aviator and the first recorded fighter ace of World War I.
• Alex Jones — Shared historical date (02-11 · Born) (1974): American far-right commentator and prominent conspiracy theorist.
• Alexander McQueen — Shared historical date (02-11 · Died) (2010): Iconic British fashion designer known for theatrical, boundary-pushing collections.
• 1894 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1894
• August 31 (08-31) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 31
• 1982 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1982
• February 11 (02-11) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 11

Frequently Asked Questions about Albert Facey