He was also a qualified solicitor and distinguished military officer who served at Gallipoli and in France during World War I. Parker was born in Perth, Western Australia.
At the outbreak of World War I, he enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force on 16 August 1914 as a Lieutenant, embarking for active service in the Middle East on 20 October.
He returned to Egypt aboard the RMS Empress of Britain, where on 30 January 1916 he transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps and ultimately to the 15th Field Artillery Brigade on 12 May 1916.
The seat had passed at that point to Francis Rowe, who had served for 25 years as secretary to the Fremantle Wharf Labourer's Union, and had reached the age of 70 by the time of the election.
Sir James Mitchell, the Nationalists' leader who had been premier from 1919 to 1924 during a period of growth, campaigned with a message of hope against the climate of mounting poverty and uncertainty.
On 22 February 1933, following the unexpected death of Thomas Davy, Parker was appointed by Premier Sir James Mitchell to the Ministry as Attorney-General and Minister for Education.
[5] On 2 January 1940, after the commencement of World War II, he was appointed General Staff Officer Grade III in the Western Command headquarters of the Citizen Forces, working with the Intelligence Section.
He travelled to the Middle East with the Sea Transport division of the AIF in 1941 as a "voyage only officer", but on 16 January 1942, he was retired from military service and promoted to Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel.
At the conclusion of his third full term in 1954, at age 70, he was defeated in his Suburban Province seat by Ruby Hutchison, the first woman ever elected to the Legislative Council.