Jock Pagan

Sir John Ernest "Jock" Pagan CMG MBE (13 May 1914 – 26 June 1986) was an Australian businessman, soldier and political figure. He had a long association with the Liberal Party of Australia including as state president of the New South Wales branch from 1963 to 1966 and federal president from 1965 to 1970. He was later Agent-General for New South Wales in London from 1970 to 1973.

Pagan was born on 13 May 1914 in Killara, New South Wales. He was the son of Hilda (née Rowe) and David Clark Pagan, a civil engineer. He grew up in Hay, New South Wales, where his father was chief engineer for the Hay Shire. He began his education at a local public school and then boarded at St Peter's College, Adelaide.

Pagan joined the Militia in 1936. On the outbreak of World War II in 1939 he was commissioned into the Royal Australian Artillery's 5th Heavy Brigade. He saw active service on the Western Desert campaign with the 9th Division, including at the First and Second Battles of El Alamein. He later served in New Guinea and as a senior instructor. Pagan was discharged from the regular army in 1945 and rejoined the Army Reserve in 1948, retiring with the rank of brigadier in 1959.

In 1948, Pagan married Marjorie Hoskins, the youngest daughter of industrialist Cecil Hoskins. The couple had three children.