He left school at a young age to enter the workforce, serving an apprenticeship in the felt hat industry and later studying his trade for periods in England and the United States.

[1] Upon leaving Richmond Central State School, and after short spells in a sawmill and a boot factory, Tudor entered the felt hat industry.

Tudor went to England, working in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, marrying Alice Smale in Denton, Lancashire in 1894.

Returning to Australia, Tudor worked at Abbotsford's mills and took a seat in the Victorian Trades Hall Council.

[5] According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, he was an "efficient administrator, with an eye for detail" who "made friends and earned respect on both sides of the House, and was considered to be the most moderate of the Victorian Labor members".

Tudor maintained his position in the ministry, and initially remained neutral during the debate within the ALP over overseas conscription, which Hughes supported.

After pressure from his local political labour council in Richmond, he eventually came out against conscription and resigned from the ministry in September 1916.

Hughes led his supporters out of a caucus meeting and formed a new National Labor Party, allowing him to stay on as prime minister with the aid of the Liberals.

According to historian Denis Murphy, he was likely elected to the leadership simply because he was the first member of cabinet to resign over the issue.

[10] In May 1918, Tudor had to officially deny a report in The Age that he would step aside in favour of Ryan prior to the next federal election.

In May 1919, their former cabinet colleague King O'Malley wrote to Fisher in London that "many people are of the opinion that Labor will not win the next election under Tudor's leadership".

Tudor was "unconsciously insulted" by a number of delegates, who effectively declared that he could not lead Labor to an election victory.

[13] His leadership was defended by his supporters in the Victorian delegation, who threatened a walkout, and also by those who viewed the resolution as usurping the role of the party caucus in choosing their leader.