Alfred Deakin

Alfred Deakin was born on 3 August 1856 in Melbourne, Victoria, to William Deakin and Sarah Bill, who emigrated from England to Adelaide in 1849. William worked as a clerk, a storekeeper, a coachman and a manager of Cobb & Co. in Victoria. Alfred was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1877 and was admitted as a barrister in 1878. He also worked as a journalist for The Age newspaper and wrote anonymously for the London Morning Post. Deakin entered politics in 1879, when he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for West Bourke. He held various ministerial positions, including Solicitor-General, Minister for Public Works and Chief Secretary. He was a prominent advocate for the federation of the Australian colonies and attended the federal conventions in 1891 and 1897–98 as a delegate for Victoria. He played a key role in drafting the federal constitution and campaigned for its approval by the people and the British government. After Federation in 1901, Deakin became the first Attorney-General of Australia in the ministry led by Edmund Barton. He succeeded Barton as prime minister in September 1903. He held office three times: from 1903 to 1904, from 1905 to 1908 and from 1909 to 1910. He led the Protectionist Party until 1909, when he merged it with the Free Traders to form the Liberal Party. He formed coalitions with the Australian Labor Party in his first two terms and with the conservatives in his third term. Deakin's governments introduced many progressive reforms, such as tariff protection, old age pensions, maternity allowances, conciliation and arbitration, defence expansion and preferential voting. He also supported the White Australia policy, compulsory voting and women's suffrage. He was a strong supporter of the British Empire and its involvement in World War I. He was an eloquent speaker and a prolific writer, publishing several books on politics, religion and spiritualism. Deakin retired from politics in 1913 due to ill health. He suffered from a degenerative neurological condition that affected his memory and speech. He died on 7 October 1919 at his home in South Yarra, Melbourne, aged 63. He was given a state funeral and buried at St Kilda Cemetery. He is widely regarded as one of Australia's most influential prime ministers and one of the architects of the Australian nation.