
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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