
Sir George
Reid Portrait by J.H.Chinner sepia
pen and wash; 36.88 x 30.5 cm. PIC
R8960 National Library of
Australia |
THE NATIONAL
LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA'S FEDERATION
GATEWAY
REID, SIR GEORGE HOUSTOUN (1845-1918)
Born in Johnston, Scotland on 25
February 1845
Reid arrived in Melbourne in 1852 and was the Colonial
Treasury from 1864-78. He had studied law part-time and was called to the Bar
in 1879. In 1880 he entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as a
member for East Sydney. In 1881 he pulled down the Parkes Government on land
law issues.
From 1891-94 he opposed Federation and then as Premier in
1894-99, he supported it. He was appointed Privy Councilor in 1897.
Reid entered the first Federal Parliament as Leader of the Opposition. He
became Prime Minister in 1904. He retired from Australian politics in 1908,
appointed KCMG in 1909, became Australia's first High Commissioner to England
in 1910, and was appointed GCMG in 1911.
His term as High Commissioner
ended in 1916 and he became a member of the House of Commons until his death
two years later.
He died in London on 12 September
1918
Books of interest
Crisp, L.F.
(1990)Federation Fathers. Carlton,Vic: Melbourne University
Press.
McMinn, W.G. (1989)George Reid. Carlton,Vic: Melbourne
University Press.
Reid, G.H. (1917)My Reminiscences. London
;Melbourne: Cassell.
The National Library holds a selection of
George Reids papers at MS 7842 and MS 2242.
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