View source for Peter Cosgrove

{{Short description|Governor-General of Australia from 2014 to 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[General (Australia)|General]] [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Sir Peter Cosgrove
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|AK|CVO|MC}}
| image               = Peter Cosgrove 2017 (1).jpg
| caption             = Cosgrove in 2017
| office              = 26th [[Governor-General of Australia]]
| monarch             = [[Elizabeth II]]
| primeminister       = [[Tony Abbott]]<br />[[Malcolm Turnbull]]<br />[[Scott Morrison]]
| term_start          = 28 March 2014
| term_end            = 1 July 2019
| predecessor         = [[Dame Quentin Bryce]]
| successor           = [[David Hurley]]
| office2             = [[Administrator (Australia)|Administrator of the Commonwealth]]
| monarch2            = [[Charles III]]
| governor_general2  = David Hurley
| primeminister2      = [[Anthony Albanese]]
| term_start2         = 30 April 2023
| term_end2           = 10 May 2023
| birth_name          = Peter John Cosgrove
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1947|07|28|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| spouse              = Lynne, Lady Cosgrove ({{nee}} Payne)
| children            = 3
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = [[Royal Military College, Duntroon]]<br />
[[National Defence College, India]]
| allegiance          = Australia
| branch              = [[Australian Army]]
| serviceyears        = 1965–2005
| rank                = [[General (Australia)|General]]
| commands            = [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of the Defence Force]] (2002–05)<br />[[Chief of Army (Australia)|Chief of Army]] (2000–02)<br />[[Forces Command (Australia)|Land Command Australia]] (2000)<br />[[International Force East Timor]] (1999–00)<br />[[1st Division (Australia)|1st Division]] (1998–99)<br />[[6th Brigade (Australia)|6th Brigade]] (1992–93)<br />[[1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]] (1983–84)
| battles             = [[Vietnam War]]<br />[[International Force East Timor]]
| mawards             = [[Knight of the Order of Australia]]<br />[[Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]]<br />[[Military Cross]]<br />[[#Honours and awards|''Complete list'']]
}}
[[General (Australia)|General]] '''Sir Peter John Cosgrove''' (born 28 July 1947) is an Australian retired senior [[Australian Army|Army]] officer who served as the 26th [[governor-general of Australia]], in office from 2014 to 2019.

A graduate of the [[Royal Military College, Duntroon]], Cosgrove fought in the [[Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War|Vietnam War]], receiving the [[Military Cross]] in 1971. From 1983 to 1984, he was commander of the [[1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]], and he later served as commander of the [[6th Brigade (Australia)|6th Brigade]] and the [[1st Division (Australia)|1st Division]]. Cosgrove rose to prominence in 1999, when he served as commander of the [[International Force for East Timor]] (INTERFET), which oversaw the peacekeeping mission in [[East Timor]] during its transition to independence. He is also an alumnus of [[National Defence College, India]].

Cosgrove was Australia's [[Chief of Army (Australia)|Chief of Army]] from 2000 to 2002 and [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of the Defence Force]] from 2002 to 2005, receiving corresponding promotions to [[Lieutenant general (Australia)|lieutenant general]] and 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 in [[Queensland]] after [[Cyclone Larry]] in 2006. In January 2014, Cosgrove was named to succeed [[Quentin Bryce|Dame Quentin Bryce]] as Governor-General of Australia. He was sworn in on 28 March 2014 and made a [[Knight of the Order of Australia]] on the same date. Cosgrove retired on 1 July 2019 and was succeeded by General [[David Hurley]].

== Early life and education ==
{{Infobox viceroy styles
| image = [[File:Badge of the Governor-General of Australia (St Edward's Crown).svg|50px]]
| name = Sir Peter Cosgrove<br />(2014–2019)
| dipstyle = His Excellency the Honourable
| offstyle = Your Excellency
| altstyle = Sir
}}
Peter John Cosgrove{{cn|date=October 2025}}<!--needs a citation with second given name---> was born in [[Randwick]], the [[Sydney]] suburb of  on 28 July 1947.<ref name=lees2017/> 

He was educated at [[Waverley College]] in Sydney, then followed his father, a [[warrant officer]], into the [[Australian Army]] by attending the [[Royal Military College, Duntroon]] in 1965. Cosgrove's uncle, [[Bill Cosgrove]], was a professional [[Australian rules football]] player, but was [[killed in action]] while serving with the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] during [[World War II]].<ref name=lees2017>{{Cite web |last=Lees |first=Justin |date=April 22, 2017 |title=Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove's mischievous 'uncle Bill' a beloved World War II hero |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/governorgeneral-sir-peter-cosgroves-mischievous-uncle-bill-a-beloved-world-war-ii-hero/news-story/2e0bbaca22dc387309181e183123e64f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240421201120/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/governorgeneral-sir-peter-cosgroves-mischievous-uncle-bill-a-beloved-world-war-ii-hero/news-story/2e0bbaca22dc387309181e183123e64f |archive-date=21 April 2024 |website=Herald Sun}}</ref> 

Cosgrove spent time in  [[Waverley College]]'s Cadet Unit, as Adjutant CUO P. Cosgrove.{{cn|date=October 2025}} He tied for the Major General JA Chapman Cane for the most efficient cadet in the unit.{{cn|date=October 2025}} Years later the cadet unit has named an award after Cosgrove, the General Cosgrove Shield, each year to honour the achievements of the most senior ranking officer to graduate.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

== Military service ==
[[File:General Peter Cosgrove AC MC (Ret'd) at the Centenary of the Kangaroo March launch.jpg|thumb|200px|Cosgrove at the Centenary of the [[Kangaroo March]] launch in 2013]]
Cosgrove was appointed a probationary second lieutenant in August 1968 while attached to a regular army unit,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241058252 |title=Royal Military College – Corps of Staff Cadets |newspaper=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |issue=72 |date=29 August 1968 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=4853 |via=Trove |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240421204306/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article241058252.3.pdf?followup=88e5d40aed00cc8f16a47cde89438f4e |archive-date= Apr 21, 2024 }}</ref> and was commissioned a lieutenant on 11 December 1968.<ref name="lt">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241037170 |title=Australian Regular Army |newspaper=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |issue=19 |date=27 February 1969 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=1253 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421212420/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article241037170.3.pdf?followup=43451de327e61c42d5e5d75b5aa3b219 |archive-date= Apr 21, 2024 }}</ref> He was allotted to the [[Royal Australian Infantry Corps|Royal Australian Infantry]]. He arrived in [[South Vietnam]] on 3 August 1969 and was posted to [[9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]] on 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 the [[Military Cross]] for these actions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.9rar.org.au/images/Citations/Words%20on%20Citation/03%20Cosgrove.pdf|title=Text of Citation for award of Military Cross to Lieutenant Peter J. Cosgrove|work=9 RAR Association |access-date=22 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218003156/http://www.9rar.org.au/images/Citations/Words%20on%20Citation/03%20Cosgrove.pdf|archive-date=18 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=LG>{{London Gazette |issue=45302 |page=1343 |date=12 February 1971 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231218095516/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45302/page/1343/data.pdf |archive-date= Dec 18, 2023 }}</ref>

Cosgrove was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 21 September 1970,<ref name="t_capt">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241058908/26037650|title=Australian Regular Army |newspaper=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |issue=97 |date=5 November 1970 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=7385 }}</ref> and was appointed an [[aide-de-camp]] to the then-Governor-General [[Paul Hasluck]] on 20 December 1971.<ref name="ADC">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241062607/26053405|title=Australian Regular Army |newspaper=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |issue=3 |date=20 January 1972 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=13 }}</ref> He was promoted to substantive captain on 31 October 1974 (seniority from 13 July),<ref name="capt">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240778515/25963832|title=Australian Military Forces |newspaper=Australian Government Gazette, General |issue=G2 |date=14 January 1975 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=39 }}</ref> to temporary major on 2 January 1976 and to substantive major on 11 December 1978.<ref name="t_maj">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240560020|title=Australian Regular Army |newspaper=Australian Government Gazette, General (National)  |issue=G45 |date=18 November 1975 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=20 }}</ref><ref name="maj">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240751553|title=Australian Regular Army |newspaper=Australian Government Gazette, General (National)  |issue=G9 |date=6 March 1979 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=26 }}</ref> In 1980 he was awarded the [[National Medal (Australia)|National Medal]],<ref name=NM>{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/907859 |work=It's an Honour |title=Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: National Medal |date=16 October 1980 |publisher=[[Commonwealth of Australia]] |access-date=12 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222042229/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/907859 |archive-date=22 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 7 December 1981.<ref name="lt_col">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240542512|title=Australian Regular Army |newspaper=Australian Government Gazette, General (National)  |issue=G3 |date=19 January 1982 |access-date=21 June 2019 |page=30 }}</ref> In the mid-1980s he commanded the [[1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]].<ref name=AM>{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/878976 |work=It's an Honour |title=Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: Member of the Order of Australia |date=26 January 1985 |publisher=[[Commonwealth of Australia]] |access-date=30 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222042217/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/878976 |archive-date=22 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cosgrove came to national fame in 1999 when, as a [[Major General (Australia)|major general]], he led the international forces ([[International Force East Timor|INTERFET]]) in a peacekeeping mission to [[East Timor]]. The mission's success made him one of Australia's most respected and popular military leaders.<ref name=AC>{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/879182 |work=It's an Honour |title=Search: Cosgrove, Peter John: Companion of the Order of Australia |date=25 March 2000 |publisher=[[Commonwealth of Australia]] |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181346/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/879182 |archive-date=29 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> He returned to Australia in 2000 as [[Forces Command (Australia)|Land Commander Australia]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Barker|first=Geoffrey|title=General Cosgrove to be New Army Chief|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/manufacturing/general-cosgrove-to-be-new-army-chief-20000502-k9gix|newspaper=Financial Review|date=2 May 2000|accessdate=23 August 2021}}</ref> was promoted to [[Lieutenant General (Australia)|lieutenant general]] in July and appointed [[Chief of Army (Australia)|Chief of the Army]] and, in 2002, was advanced to [[General (Australia)|general]] as [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of the Defence Force]].<ref name=CM>{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1116107 |work=It's an Honour |title=Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: Centenary Medal |date=1 January 2001 |publisher=[[Commonwealth of Australia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222042043/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1116107 |archive-date=22 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2004, the Foreign Minister [[Alexander Downer]] queried the judgement of [[Australian Federal Police#Commissioners|Federal Police Commissioner]] [[Mick Keelty]].<ref name=Keelty>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/18/1079199363688.html |title=Honest copper emerges victor |work=[[The Age]] |date=18 March 2004 |author1=Grattan, Michelle |author-link1=Michelle Grattan |author2=Forbes, Mark |quote=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" }}</ref> Following a joint interview with the then Defence Minister [[Robert Hill (Australian politician)|Robert 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.<ref name=MyStory>{{cite book |title=My Story |author=Cosgrove, Peter John |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |location=Australia |year=2006 |isbn=0-7322-8384-1 }}</ref> 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 Force (Australia)|Chief of Air Force]] Air Marshal [[Angus Houston]].

== Post-military career ==
=== Cyclone Larry Taskforce ===
On 23 March 2006, Cosgrove was selected to lead the [[Queensland Government]] taskforce of rebuilding communities damaged by [[Cyclone Larry]], a [[Australian tropical cyclone severity category|Category 5]] tropical cyclone that devastated the [[Innisfail, Queensland|Innisfail]] region of northern [[Queensland]].<ref>{{cite press release |author=Beattie, Peter |author-link=Peter Beattie |date=23 March 2006 |url=http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=45250 |title=General Cosgrove to lead Cyclone Larry taskforce |publisher=[[Premier of Queensland]] |access-date=12 October 2013 }}</ref>
"In recognition of the important contribution General Cosgrove made to the community of North Queensland following Cyclone Larry", on 11 October 2008, [[Premier of Queensland|Queensland Premier]] [[Anna Bligh]] announced that a new residential suburb in the [[Bohle River Aerodrome|Bohle Plains]] area of [[Townsville, Queensland|Townsville]] would be named Cosgrove, formerly the site of an Abattoir for the cattle sale yards next to it.<!-- Was it? i.e. Did this ever actually happen? i.e. A supporting follow-up reference would be nice ... --><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/11/2388426.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011190103/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/11/2388426.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 October 2008 |title=Townsville suburb named in honour of General Cosgrove |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |date=11 October 2008 |access-date=11 October 2008 }}</ref><ref name=Cosgrove-storm>{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Lendl |url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/10/11/16825_hpnews.html |title=Townsville "Cosgrove" storm |work=[[Townsville Bulletin]] |date=11 October 2008 |publisher=[[News Limited]] |access-date=11 October 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/national/townsville-suburb-named-after-cosgrove-20081011-4yl8.html |title=Townsville suburb named after Cosgrove |agency=[[Australian Associated Press|AAP]] |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=11 October 2008 |access-date=11 October 2008 }}</ref>

=== Corporate leadership and community organisations ===
Cosgrove served on the board of Australia's main airline [[Qantas]] between July 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qantas2013.reportonline.com.au/#50 |page=51 |title=Board of Directors |work=Annual Report |year=2013 |publisher=[[Qantas]] Limited |access-date=28 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127073337/http://www.qantas2013.reportonline.com.au/#50 |archive-date=27 January 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and January 2014<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/resignation-of-general-peter-cosgrove |title=Resignation of General Peter Cosgrove |date=28 January 2014 |publisher=[[Qantas]] Limited |access-date=28 January 2014 }}</ref> and is{{when|date=October 2025}} on numerous other boards as chairman or member.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}} 

He served as [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of the [[Australian Catholic University]] between November 2010<ref name=ACU>{{cite web |url=http://www.acu.edu.au/246442 |title=General Peter Cosgrove appointed Chancellor of ACU |date=25 May 2010 |publisher=[[Australian Catholic University]] |access-date=12 July 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121127020929/http://www.acu.edu.au/246442 |archive-date=27 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and January 2014.<ref name=catholicnews2014>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2014/2014128_211.shtml |title=General Peter Cosgrove Australia's Next Governor-General |date=28 January 2014 |access-date=2 February 2014 |work=Catholic Communications |publisher=Archdiocese of Sydney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004085355/http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2014/2014128_211.shtml |archive-date=4 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

As of 2014 he was honorary patron of the [[ACT Veterans Rugby Club]]<ref>{{cite web|title=ACT Veterans Rugby|url=http://www.actvetsrugby.org.au/default.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623175004/http://actvetsrugby.org.au/default.htm|archive-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> and the Rosies Youth Mission.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosies Youth Mission. Inc.|title=Organisational Structure|url=http://rosies.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=17|access-date=21 May 2014}}</ref>

Cosgrove was appointed as patron to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Elliot |first1=Ellen-Maree |title=Governor-General Peter Cosgrove patron of Australian Volunteer Coast Guard thanks to Royal Military College Duntroon friend |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/governorgeneral-peter-cosgrove-patron-of-australian-volunteer-coast-guard-thanks-to-royal-military-college-duntroon-friend/news-story/e2d25a19f3e505d3507c489489df30c5 |access-date=1 October 2025 |publisher=Courier Mail |date=25 May 2016}}</ref>

== Governor-General ==
[[File:Peter Cosgrove Swearing In 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Swearing in as Governor-General]]
On 28 January 2014, Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]] announced that [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] had accepted his advice to appoint General Cosgrove as the next [[Governor-General of Australia]], to succeed [[Quentin Bryce|Dame Quentin Bryce]] in late March.<ref>[http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-02-24/governor-general-designate-be-sworn Governor-General-designate to be sworn in] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227130617/http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-02-24/governor-general-designate-be-sworn |date=27 February 2014 }} – Office of the Prime Minister of Australia, 24 February 2014.</ref> On 25 March, Abbott announced that the Queen had also approved the reinstatement of the grade of [[List of Knights and Dames of the Order of Australia|Knight or Dame]] in the [[Order of Australia]] (she had abolished it in 1986 on the advice of [[Bob Hawke]]), and that governors-general would be ''ex officio'' the Principal Knight or Dame of the Order.<ref name="ABC5344646">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-25/pre-eminent-australians-could-be-made-knight-or-dame/5344646|title='Pre-eminent' Australians could be made Knight or Dame under a new award, PM Tony Abbott says|publisher=ABC News|date=25 March 2014}}</ref> 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 Justice [[Robert French]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Defence Force Chief General Peter Cosgrove sworn in as Australia's 26th Governor General|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/former-defence-force-chief-general-peter-cosgrove-sworn-in-as-australias-26th-governorgeneral/story-fncynjr2-1226867305782|work=news.com.au|date=28 March 2014|access-date=19 November 2015|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109032038/http://www.news.com.au/national/former-defence-force-chief-general-peter-cosgrove-sworn-in-as-australias-26th-governorgeneral/story-fncynjr2-1226867305782|url-status=dead}}</ref> becoming Sir Peter Cosgrove.<ref name="GG">{{cite news|title=Peter Cosgrove announced as next Governor-General|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/peter-cosgrove-announced-as-next-governorgeneral/story-fncynjr2-1226811724006|access-date=28 January 2014|newspaper=News.com.au|date=28 January 2014|agency=[[Australian Associated Press|AAP]]|archive-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001204347/http://www.news.com.au/national/peter-cosgrove-announced-as-next-governorgeneral/story-fncynjr2-1226811724006|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Governor-General LFA Reception 2018 {{!}} Admiralty House {{!}} Executive Images Photography & Video |url=https://executiveimages.com.au/blog/lfa-admiralty-house-reception-2018/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Executive Images |language=en-AU}}</ref>
[[File:Prince William, Catherine, Prince George and Peter Cosgrove.jpg|thumb|[[Prince George of Wales|Prince George]] with his parents and Sir Peter Cosgrove at [[Admiralty House, Sydney]], April 2014]]

On 16 December 2018, Prime Minister [[Scott Morrison]] announced that The Queen had approved the appointment of retired General [[David Hurley]], the current [[Governor of New South Wales]], as 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 the [[2019 New South Wales state election|New South Wales election]] in March and [[2019 Australian federal election|federal election]] expected in May 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-picks-former-general-david-hurley-to-be-australia-s-next-governor-general-20181216-p50mjg.html|title=Scott Morrison picks former general David Hurley to be Australia's next governor-general|date=16 December 2018 |first=David |last=Crowe |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>

On 12 August 2019, during a post appointment call upon [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]], Cosgrove was appointed a [[Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]].<ref name="CVO">{{cite news|title=Court Circular: Balmoral Castle|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/august-13-2019-3zn5zf2w0|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=13 August 2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

During the [[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla]], with the [[Governor-General of Australia]] and all of the state governors in London, Cosgrove served as the [[Administrator (Australia)|Administrator of the Commonwealth]] from 30 April to 10 May 2023.<ref>[https://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-general/media/governor-general-attend-coronation-and-undertake-state-visit-greece Governor-General to attend Coronation and undertake State Visit to Greece]</ref>

== Personal life ==
Cosgrove married Lynne Payne in 1976,<ref name="ggbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.gov.au/gg-bio-cosgrove |work=Governor-General of Australia |title=Biographies of Peter and Lynne Cosgrove |access-date=30 March 2014 |publisher=Australian Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329215556/http://www.gg.gov.au/gg-bio-cosgrove |archive-date=29 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and they have three sons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/people/1070841.asp |title=General Peter John Cosgrove, AC, MC |work=People profiles |publisher=[[Australian War Memorial]] |access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref>

His memoir, ''You shouldn't have joined ...'', was published by [[Allen & Unwin]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cosgrove, Peter (Peter J.)|title=You shouldn't have joined... : a memoir|date=27 October 2020|isbn=978-1-76087-852-8|location=Sydney, N.S.W.|oclc=1200259235}}</ref>
[[File:Lady Lynne Cosgrove.jpg|upright|thumb|Lady Cosgrove in 2017]]

== Honours and awards ==
<div class="center">
[[File:AUS Order of Australia (civil) BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg|100px]]
<br />
[[File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:Military Cross ribbon.png|100px]]
[[File:Order of St John (UK) ribbon -vector.svg|100px]]
[[File:Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 ribbon.png|100px]]
<br />
[[File:Vietnam Medal BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:Australian Active Service Medal ribbon.png|100px]]
[[File:INTERFET Medal ribbon.png|100px]]
[[File:Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 ribbon.png|100px]]
<br />
[[File:AUS Centenary Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:DFSM with Fed Star.png|100px]]
[[File:National Medal (Australia) ribbon.jpg|100px]]
[[File:Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png|100px]]
<br />
[[File:Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|100px]]
[[File:New Zealand Order of Merit ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|100px]]
[[File:Tong-il Security Medal Ribbon.svg|100px]]
<br />
[[File:Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Cross BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png|100px]]
[[File:Order of Timor-Leste.png|100px]]
<br />
[[File:GC.OrdineS.GregorioMagno.png|100px]]
[[File:TON Order of the Crown of Tonga ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:PRT Order of Liberty - Grand Cross BAR.svg|100px]]
</div>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:AUS Order of Australia (civil) BAR.svg|50px]] || [[Knight of the Order of Australia]] (AK) || 28 March 2014 ||<ref name=Note2>Automatic upon taking office as Governor-General</ref><ref name=AK>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-28/governor-general-peter-cosgrove-swearing-in/5350796|title=General Peter Cosgrove to be sworn in as governor-general at ceremony in Canberra|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia|date=28 March 2014|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|[[File:AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg|50px]] || {{nowrap|[[Companion of the Order of Australia]] (AC)}} || {{nowrap|25 March 2000}}<br />{{nowrap|<small>(Military division)</small>}} || For eminent service to the Australian Defence Force as the Commander of the International Force East Timor<ref name=AC />
|-
| [[Member of the Order of Australia]] (AM) || 26 January 1985<br /><small>(Military division)</small> || In recognition of service as Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment<ref name=AM />
|-
|[[File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg|50px]] || [[Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]] (CVO) || 12 August 2019 || <ref name="CVO" />
|-
|[[File:Military Cross ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Military Cross]] (MC) || 12 February 1971 || Infantry – 9 RAR – Vietnam<ref name=LG /><ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1091561 |work=It's an Honour |title=Search: COSGROVE, Peter John: Military Cross |date=12 February 1971 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222042242/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1091561 |archive-date=22 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Order of St John (UK) ribbon -vector.svg|50px]] || [[Venerable Order of Saint John|Knight of the Order of St John]] || 28 March 2014 ||<ref name=Note2 /><ref name=KStJ>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2128120 |work=London Gazette |title=Order of St John |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975]] || || with Vietnam clasp
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Medal BAR.svg|50px]] || [[Vietnam Medal]] || ||<ref name=BIAust>{{cite web|last=Thomsen|first=Simon|title=EXECUTIVE LIFE Here Are The Honours Our New Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, AC MC, Already Has|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-honours-our-new-governor-general-his-excellency-sir-peter-cosgrove-ac-mc-already-has-2014-3|publisher=Business Insider Australia|access-date=12 April 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Australian Active Service Medal ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Australian Active Service Medal]] || || with East Timor clasp<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:INTERFET Medal ribbon.png|50px]] || [[International Force East Timor Medal]] || || (INTERFET)<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Australian Service Medal 1945–1975]] || ||<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:AUS Centenary Medal ribbon.svg|50px]] || [[Centenary Medal]] || 1 January 2001 || For service to Australian society as Chief of the Defence Force<ref name=CM />
|-
|[[File:DFSM with Fed Star.png|50px]] || {{nowrap|[[Defence Force Service Medal]] with Federation Star}} || || 40–44 years service<ref name=BIAust />
|-

|[[File:National Medal (Australia) ribbon.jpg|50px]] || [[National Medal (Australia)|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<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Australian Defence Medal]] || ||<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|50px]] || [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] || || [[South Vietnam|Republic of Vietnam]]<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:New Zealand Order of Merit ribbon.svg|50px]] || [[Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] || {{nowrap|[[2000 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|5 June 2000]]}} || New Zealand<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2000-including-special-list-east-timor |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2000 (including special list for East Timor) |date=5 June 2000 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|50px]] ||  [[Legion of Merit|Commander of the Legion of Merit]] || || United States<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:Tong-il Security Medal Ribbon.svg|50px]] || {{nowrap|[[Order of National Security Merit (Korea)|Tong-il Medal of the Order of National Security Merit]]}} || || South Korea<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg|50px]]|| [[Legion of Honour|Officer of the Legion of Honour]] || || France<ref name=BIAust />
|-
|[[File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Cross BAR.svg|50px]] || [[Order of Prince Henry|Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry]] || 28 May 2002 || Portugal<ref>[http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/pdf/EstrangeirosCondNacionais.pdf Annual Portuguese Honorary Orders], ''Foreign citizens 1910–2006'', 2006, retrieved 19 April 2008, p111. {{in lang|pt}} {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314160958/http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/pdf/EstrangeirosCondNacionais.pdf |date=14 March 2008 }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png|50px]] || {{nowrap|[[Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)|Distinguished Service Order]]}} || {{nowrap|7 September 2004}} || Singapore<ref>[http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2004/sep/07sep04_nr.html MINDEF Singapore], ''President Nathan Confers Top Military Award on Chief of the Australian Defence Force'', 7 September 2004. Retrieved 19 April 2008.</ref>
|-
|[[File:Order of Timor-Leste.png|50px]] || Collar of the [[Order of Timor-Leste]] || 30 August 2009 || Timor-Leste<ref>[http://www.defence.gov.au/opex/global/opastute/images/gallery/2009/0904/index.htm 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 Dili] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213032722/http://www.defence.gov.au/opex/global/opastute/images/gallery/2009/0904/index.htm |date=13 February 2014 }}, Defence image gallery – Order of East Timor medal presentations, 4 September 2009</ref>
|-
|[[File:GC.OrdineS.GregorioMagno.png|50px]] || [[Order of St. Gregory the Great|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great]] || {{nowrap|7 February 2013}} || Holy See<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2013/201327_365.shtml |title=Cardinal Confers Papal Awards on Three Outstanding Australians |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=2 February 2014 |work=Catholic Communications |publisher=Archdiocese of Sydney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516041125/http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2013/201327_365.shtml |archive-date=16 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:TON Order of the Crown of Tonga ribbon.svg|50px]]|| [[Order of the Crown of Tonga|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga]]
|3 July 2015
|Tonga<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/program/visit-tonga|title=Visit to Tonga|last=ADC|first=RAAF|date=5 July 2015|website=www.gg.gov.au|language=en|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628232204/https://www.gg.gov.au/program/visit-tonga|archive-date=28 June 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.png|50px]]|| [[Order of the Liberator General San Martín|Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín]] || {{nowrap|9 August 2016}} || Argentina<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gg.gov.au/events/buenos-aires-argentina |title=Buenos Aires, Argentina |date=9 August 2016 |access-date=21 September 2016 |work=Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527021342/https://www.gg.gov.au/events/buenos-aires-argentina |archive-date=27 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:PRT Order of Liberty - Grand Cross BAR.svg|50px]]|| [[Order of Liberty|Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty]] || {{nowrap|6 July 2018}} || Portugal<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/GovernorGeneralAustralia/posts/697200483944563  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/125778377753446/697200483944563 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Facebook post |date=6 July 2018 |access-date=6 July 2018 |work=Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Infantry Combat Badge (Australia).svg|border|50px]]|| [[Infantry Combat Badge]] ||
|-
|colspan=43| '''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."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/peter-cosgrove/104/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806005834/https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/peter-cosgrove/104/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2020|title=General Peter Cosgrove AC MC |work=Australian of the Year 2001 |publisher=National Australia Day Committee |access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref>
|}

=== Honorary appointments ===
* {{flagicon|Australia}} '''2022–Present''': Patron of the [[Australian Defence Force Cadets]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Defence Force Cadets Annual Report 2021-22 |url=https://www.transparency.gov.au/publications/defence/department-of-defence/department-of-defence-annual-report-2021-22/chapter-6---strategic-workforce-management/australian-defence-force-cadets |publisher=Transparency.gov.au |access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Australia}} '''2014–2019''': Colonel-in-Chief of the [[Royal Australian Army Medical Corps]]<ref name=Note2 />
* {{flagicon|Australia}} '''2014–2019''': Colonel of the Regiment of the [[Royal Australian Regiment]]
* {{flagicon|Australia}} '''2014–2019''': [[Scouts Australia|Chief Scout of Australia]]
* {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} '''2014–2019''': [[Order of Saint John (chartered 1888)|Prior of the Order of St John]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Understanding the Most Venerable Order of St John|url=https://www.stjohnsa.com.au/cms_resources/Understanding%20the%20Most%20Venerable%20Order%20of%20St%20John.pdf|website=St John South Australia|access-date=24 August 2018|date=12 December 2014}}</ref>

=== Honorary degrees ===
[[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]:
*2016 Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), [[Monash University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gg.gov.au/speech/address-graduates-faculty-engineering|title=Address to the Graduates of the Faculty of Engineering|first=Sam|last=Groves|date=25 May 2016|work=gg.gov.au|access-date=22 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221013141/http://gg.gov.au/speech/address-graduates-faculty-engineering|archive-date=21 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Named in his honour ===
* the suburb of [[Cosgrove, Queensland|Cosgrove]] in the [[City of Townsville]], Queensland<ref name="qpnl">{{cite QPN|44586|Cosgrove|suburb in Townsville City|access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref>
*The Cosgrove Centre, [[Waverley College]], Sydney, New South Wales

== See also ==
{{Portal|Catholicism|Military of Australia}}
* [[List of governors-general of Australia]]
* [[List of Australian of the Year Award recipients]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.awm.gov.au/fiftyaustralians/11.asp Cosgrove bio], Australian War Memorial
*[http://www.icmi.com.au/general-peter-cosgrove-ac-mc Cosgrove bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017172720/http://www.icmi.com.au/general-peter-cosgrove-ac-mc |date=17 October 2013 }}, www.icmi.com.au
*[http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-heroes/cosgrove.htm Pictorial bio], www.diggerhistory.info
{{external media
|video1= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlTkzHX5zYU One Plus One: Sir Peter Cosgrove], One Plus One, [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]
}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Admiral [[Chris Barrie (admiral)|Chris Barrie]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of the Defence Force]]|years=2002–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=Air Chief Marshal [[Angus Houston]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=Lieutenant General [[Frank Hickling]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Army (Australia)|Chief of Army]]|years=2000–2002}}
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{{s-bef|before=Major General [[John Hartley (general)|John Hartley]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Forces Command (Australia)|Land Commander Australia]]|years=2000}}
{{s-aft|after=Major General [[Peter Abigail]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=Major General [[Tim Ford (general)|Tim Ford]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commander [[1st Division (Australia)|1st Division]]|years=1998–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=Major General [[Jim Molan]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=Lieutenant Colonel Barry Caligari}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commanding Officer of the [[1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment]]|years=1983–1984}}
{{s-aft|after=Lieutenant Colonel John McAloney}}
|-
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gustav Nossal|Sir Gustav Nossal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Australian of the Year]] Award|years=2001}}
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|-
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef|before=Brother Julian McDonald}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of the [[Australian Catholic University]]|years=2005–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=Ted Exell<br />{{small|Acting}}}}
|-
{{s-npo}}
{{s-bef|before=Major General [[Adrian Clunies-Ross]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Australian War Memorial|Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council]]|years=2007–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=Rear Admiral [[Ken Doolan]]}}
|-
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Quentin Bryce|Dame Quentin Bryce]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor-General of Australia]]|years=2014–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Hurley]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors-General of Australia}}
{{Chief of Army (Australia)}}
{{Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)}}
{{Australians of the Year}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cosgrove, Peter}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Australian Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Australian expatriates in India]]
[[Category:Australian autobiographers]]
[[Category:Australian memoirists]]
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[[Category:Australian military personnel of the International Force for East Timor]]
[[Category:Australian military personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Australian of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Australian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Australian recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:Australian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Army (Australia)]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Defence Force (Australia)]]
[[Category:Collars of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:Governors-general of Australia]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Prince Henry]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Order of National Security Merit members]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Sydney]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (South Korea)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Timor-Leste]]
[[Category:Royal Military College, Duntroon graduates]]
[[Category:Australian monarchists]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]
[[Category:People educated at Waverley College]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian military personnel]]