Edmund Barton

Sir Edmund Barton, ( born January 18, 1849 in Sydney, New South Wales, † January 7, 1920 in Medlow Bath, New South Wales) was an Australian politician and the first prime minister of the country. His term lasted from 1 January 1901 to 24 September 1903. He was never leader of the opposition.

Life

Beginning of the political career

Edmund Barton was born as the youngest of nine children of William and Mary Louise Barton. His father was the first stockbroker in Sydney. At the age of 7 he began his education at Fort Street High School. At 10, he moved to Sydney Grammar School. After leaving school in 1865 he began studying at the University of Sydney. In 1868 he earned his bachelor 's degree and two years later, at the age of 21 years, his master's degree.

As from 1868, Edmund Barton also worked in a law firm. He was admitted as a lawyer ( barrister ) at high courts end in 1871. The 1870 years he worked as a lawyer.

At the suggestion of his friend George Reid, 4th Prime Minister of Australia later, he joined the debating society at that time a university to where many social and economic policy issues were discussed. There, he trained his oratory.

Edmund Barton was married on December 28, 1877 Jane Mason Ross in Newcastle with whom he four sons, Edmund Alfred (1879 ), Wilfrid (1880 ), Arnold Hubert (1884 ); Oswald (1888 ) and two daughters, Jean Alice (1882 ) and Leila Stephanie (1892 ) had.

From the mid- 1870s he began to pursue a political career. After two failed attempts in 1876 and 1877, he was able to win a seat in the colonial Parliament of New South Wales in 1879 finally. With various interruptions, he worked for various constituencies until 1900 Member of Parliament. With only 33 years he was Speaker of Parliament in 1882, a post which he held until 1887.

Early 1890s, Edmund Barton's political setting, away from the Free Trade Party ( FT) was transformed under George Reid, to Protectionist Party ( PROT ), for which he took up as a candidate in the elections now from 1891.

Edmund Barton was one of the leading proponents of the creation of a Commonwealth of Australia. As a delegate of the colony of New South Wales, he took part in the engaged Constituent Assemblies of 1890 and 1891 as well as 1897 and 1898. In March 1900 he led a delegation to London to witness the passing of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill, which contained the text of the constitution by the British Parliament.

Prime Minister and Chief Justice

Edmund Barton's appointment as the first Prime Minister of Australia was in 1900 ahead of a controversy. The first Governor-General of Australia, Lord John Hope, had initially provided the then Premier of New South Wales Sir William Lyne for the post. Since this was, however, occurred in previous years as an opponent of Australia, this nomination led to massive protests. On December 24, commissioned John Lord Hopetoun finally Edmund Barton as the leaders of the proponents of Australia to form a government. Just one day later, he was able to present his first cabinet.

This first cabinet should build the basis for a functioning administration and prepare the first, scheduled for March 29, 1901 parliamentary elections. After this election, Edmund Barton's Protectionist Party was able to form a government together with the Australian Labor Party (ALP ) and he was sworn in on May 9, 1901 as the first elected prime minister. His second, only vice imaginary at a position Cabinet continued to struggle primarily with the financial and legal structure of the federal administration.

Of the total of 95 laws, which while Edmund Barton's reign were adopted, the following should be noted:

  • Federal Immigration Restriction Act and Pacific Iceland Labourers Act (1901 ): These two laws regulated immigration to and the right to stay in Australia.
  • Federal Public Service Act (1902 ): This law shall regulate the responsibilities of the Federal and its sources of income.
  • Commonwealth Franchise Act (1902 ): This law women's suffrage was introduced at the federal level.
  • Judiciary Act (1903 ): Basic legal framework and the establishment of the High Court of Australia was founded with this law.

Most of the time the year 1902 Edmund Barton spent in England, where he had traveled for the coronation of Edward VII. During the visit, he negotiated an agreement establishing wrote the continued presence of the British Navy in Sydney. Also, he was elevated to knighthood ( Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George ( GCMG ) ). In Australia he was represented during this time of Alfred Deakin in his office.

Less than a month after the entry into force of the Judiciary Act came Edmund Barton on September 24, 1903 as Prime Minister back to follow his vocation as a judge of the High Court of Australia can.

His office as a judge at the Supreme Court of Australia Edmund Barton practiced until his death. He suffered on January 7th, 1920 while on holiday in Medlow Bath, New South Wales a heart attack.

Freemasonry

Nearly one- third of the members of the first Australian Parliament were Masons. Barton was a member of Australia Lodge of Harmony No. 556, and was launched on March 3, 1878. On 9 June 1880, he was employed as Senior Deacon of the Masonic Lodge. This Lodge was 1888, the No. 5 with the establishment of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales.

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