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Sir Edmund Barton is born
Sir Edmund (Toby) Barton (1849-1920), federationist, first prime minister and judge, was born on 18 January 1849 at Glebe, Sydney, third son and youngest child of William Barton and his wife Mary Louisa, née Whydah; his eldest brother was George Burnett Barton. -
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SIr Edmund Barton's life
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University of Sydney
Barton went the University of Sydney, from which he graduated with a B.A. in 1868 and an M.A. in 1870. -
Start of a career
He became a barrister in 1871 and set up a successful legal practice. He joined the Sydney Mechanics Institute to learn the art of debating. He married Jane (Jeanie) Mason Ross in 1877, and they had six children. -
Barton and colonial politics
Barton entered New South Wales colonial politics in 1877, standing unsuccessfully as a candidate for the University seat in the Legislative Assembly, but winning the seat in 1879. He switched to the Wellington seat in 1880, then in 1882 to East Sydney, which he held until 1887. -
Barton takes control
When Parkes lost government in October 1891 he asked Barton, by now a convinced federalist, to take over the leadership of the federal movement. Barton worked tirelessly to promote Federation through the formation of local branches of the Australasian Federal Leagues. From 1893 to 1897 he addressed 300 meetings in New South Wales. -
premiers meet in Hobart
In January 1895 the premiers met in Hobart. They agreed that enabling Acts should be passed in colonial parliaments to allow for popular election of delegates, and for a referendum to approve a draft Constitution. Barton topped the New South Wales poll to elect delegates to the second Federal Convention, gaining 75 per cent of the total votes. When the second Federal Convention began meeting in March 1897, it appointed Barton 'Leader of the Convention', chairman of the constitutional committee -
The New South Wales election
At the New South Wales election in July 1898, dominated by the Federation issue, Barton won the seat of Hastings-Macleay and thus returned to the Legislative Assembly. In September 1898 he replaced the anti-federationist, William Lyne, as opposition leader. -
Barton leads delegation to London
Barton led the Australian delegation to London in early 1900 to negotiate amendments to the Constitution Bill which the UK government wanted, and to oversee the safe passage of the Bill through the UK parliament. On 9 July 1900 Queen Victoria gave Royal Assent to the Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia. On 18 July 1900 Lord Hopetoun, former governor of Victoria (1889-95), was named as inaugural Governor-General of Australia. -
Australia's first Prime Minister
Governor-General Lord Hopetoun commissioned Barton as Australia's first Prime Minister on 31 December 1900. On Tuesday 1 January 1901 Lord Hopetoun proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia as a federation of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia and swore in Barton's ministry at a huge public Commonwealth inauguration ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney. A choir of 10,000 sang Advance, Australia Fair, -
Bartons acts as PM and other events
Among the first Acts of Barton's government in 1901 was legislation to restrict immigration, thus instituting the 'White Australia Policy'. The Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 established uniform federal franchise. This gave the vote to adult British subjects resident in Australia for at least six months, but excluded Aborigines, Africans and Asians. -
Bartons acts as PM and other events
On 9 May 1901 the Duke of York (later King George V) opened the Commonwealth parliament in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, which became the interim capital. (Federal parliament subsequently met in Victoria's state parliament house.) FW Holder, former Premier of South Australia, was elected the first Speaker of the House of Representatives. -
Bartons acts as PM and other events
Following a competition for the design of a national flag, for which 32,823 entries were submitted, a flag including elements from the five winning entries was chosen. It was flown officially as the Australian flag for the first time, over the Exhibition Building in Melbourne, on 3 September 1901. -
Bartons acts as PM and other events
The Judiciary Act of Australia became law on 25 August 1903, providing for the establishment of the High Court of Australia. Barton remained Prime Minister for two years and ten months. -
Death of a leader
Barton resigned as Prime Minister on 24 September 1903 to become a foundation member of the newly established High Court of Australia, becoming one of two judges serving with the inaugural Chief Justice SW Griffith. Barton served on the High Court for over 16 years, until his death on 7 January 1920 at Medlow Bath, New South Wales.
