Alfred Deakin

Alfred Deakin
Portrait by J.H. Chinner
reproduction print; image and text 38.3 x 25.8 cm
PIC S11024
National Library of Australia
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA'S
FEDERATION GATEWAY


DEAKIN, ALFRED (1856-1919)

The second Prime Minister of Australia, Alfred Deakin, was born in Fitzroy, Victoria on 3 August 1856 and qualified as a barrister from the University of Melbourne. He became a journalist writing for George Syme in the Leader. His friendship with George's brother David Syme led to Deakin's nomination for the seat of West Bourne, which became vacant in 1879 when George Higinbotham resigned. Deakin represented West Bourne until 1889 when he moved to represent Essendon.

Water management was a subject of deep interest to Deakin, developed in his activities as Victorian Minister of Water Supply in a time of severe drought. He visited America in 1884 and subsequently wrote a report Irrigation in Western America. In 1886 his work on irrigation cumulated in an Irrigation Act establishing government control of all sources of water supply. Involved in the Federation conferences, in 1891 as a non-ministerial representative and in 1897 as an elected representative for Victoria, Deakin's eloquence was widely recognised. He worked through the Australian Natives Association to promote Federation, assisting in the development of the Federation League. With Barton and Kinston Deakin travelled to England in 1900 to negotiate the passage of the Commonwealth of Australia Bill.

Australia's first Federal Attorney-General, Deakin then became the second Prime Minister of Australia after the retirement of Barton in 1903. He was however defeated in 1904. With the support of the Labor Party he resumed Prime Ministership from July 1905 to 1908. Forming with Joseph Cook the 'fusion' in 1909 he became Prime Minister again but was defeated in the 1910 election.He died in Melbourne on 7 October 1919 after a long illness.
Books of interest

Deakin, Alfred. (1944) The Federal Story. Melbourne: Robertson & Mullens.

Deakin, Alfred. (1877) A New Pilgrim's Progress. Melbourne: Terry.

Deakin, Alfred. (1875) Quentin Massys: A Drama in Five Acts. Melbourne: Printed by J.P. Donaldson.

Murdoch, Walter. (1999) Alfred Deakin: A Sketch. Melbourne: Bookman Press.

La Nauze, J.A. (1979) Alfred Deakin: a biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.

The Manuscript section of the National Library of Australian has large archival holdings of Alfred Deakin. (MS 1540).

   

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