A who's who of the Federation movement
Henry Parkes:
Sir Henry Parkes, politician and journalist, was an individual that was instrumental in the Federation process, and often considered the Father of the Australian Federation. He was premier of New South Wales five times. Henry Parkes was born in Canley, Warwickshire, a small suburb in England. His parents were farmers, and he received little schooling. Henry Parkes moved to Australia in 1839, and started his own newspaper business. He was interested in politics and wanted changes in the way New South Wales was governed. In 1854 he was elected to the New South Wales Parliament and introduced laws which improved hospitals, prisons, and the lives of small farmers. 1860s on, Henry Parkes talked to people about the states joining together. He was president of a convention in 1891 to plan a constitution for a federated Australia.
Sir Henry Parkes, politician and journalist, was an individual that was instrumental in the Federation process, and often considered the Father of the Australian Federation. He was premier of New South Wales five times. Henry Parkes was born in Canley, Warwickshire, a small suburb in England. His parents were farmers, and he received little schooling. Henry Parkes moved to Australia in 1839, and started his own newspaper business. He was interested in politics and wanted changes in the way New South Wales was governed. In 1854 he was elected to the New South Wales Parliament and introduced laws which improved hospitals, prisons, and the lives of small farmers. 1860s on, Henry Parkes talked to people about the states joining together. He was president of a convention in 1891 to plan a constitution for a federated Australia.
Edmund Barton:
Sir Edmund Barton, barrister, parliamentarian, first prime minister and judge, was born on 18th of January 1849 at Glebe, Sydney, third son and youngest child of William Barton and his wife Mary Louisa. As a boy Edmund had loved fishing and cricket, he played for the University of Sydney in 1870 and 1871. Barton first became an MP in 1879, in the Parliament of New South Wales. He contributed solidly to the federation movement through the 1890s. After many years of involvement with the federation movement Edmund Barton was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the first Australian Parliament and the first Prime Minister of Australia.
Sir Edmund Barton, barrister, parliamentarian, first prime minister and judge, was born on 18th of January 1849 at Glebe, Sydney, third son and youngest child of William Barton and his wife Mary Louisa. As a boy Edmund had loved fishing and cricket, he played for the University of Sydney in 1870 and 1871. Barton first became an MP in 1879, in the Parliament of New South Wales. He contributed solidly to the federation movement through the 1890s. After many years of involvement with the federation movement Edmund Barton was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the first Australian Parliament and the first Prime Minister of Australia.
Alfred Deakin:
Alfred Deakin, barrister, journalist and prime minister, was born on 3 August 1856 at Collingwood, Melbourne, younger child of William Deakin of Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, and his wife Sarah, née Bill, of Llanarth, Monmouthshire, Wales. Alfred Deakin was one of the framers of the Australian Constitution and became Australia's second Prime Minister in 1903. He began training to become a barrister at the age of sixteen, working also as a schoolteacher and private coach. Like most law students at the time, he completed the required law subjects at the University, but did not enrol for a law degree. When Edmund Barton resigned as Prime Minister to become a judge of the new court in 1903, Deakin took his place, holding office three times down to 1910. Deakin's government was defeated at the polls in 1910, and he retired from parliament at the start of 1913. A form of dementia gradually afflicted him, taking away his memory and his ability to speak. He died in 1919, at the age of 63.
Alfred Deakin, barrister, journalist and prime minister, was born on 3 August 1856 at Collingwood, Melbourne, younger child of William Deakin of Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, and his wife Sarah, née Bill, of Llanarth, Monmouthshire, Wales. Alfred Deakin was one of the framers of the Australian Constitution and became Australia's second Prime Minister in 1903. He began training to become a barrister at the age of sixteen, working also as a schoolteacher and private coach. Like most law students at the time, he completed the required law subjects at the University, but did not enrol for a law degree. When Edmund Barton resigned as Prime Minister to become a judge of the new court in 1903, Deakin took his place, holding office three times down to 1910. Deakin's government was defeated at the polls in 1910, and he retired from parliament at the start of 1913. A form of dementia gradually afflicted him, taking away his memory and his ability to speak. He died in 1919, at the age of 63.