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Fast facts: George Reid
Personal profile
Born:
25 February 1845, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Education:
Melbourne Academy (Scotch College) (c.1852–57)
Employment:
public servant, barrister
Memberships:
Sydney School of Arts Debating Society (1860–c.75); Young Men’s Presbyterian Union (1860s); Cobden Club, London (1875–); Savage Club, London (1909–18)
Marriage:
5 November 1891, Wangaratta, Victoria
Children:
Thelma (c.1893); Douglas (1895); Clive (1899)
Died:
12 September 1918, London
Buried:
Putney Vale Cemetery, London
Honours:
Privy Councillor (1897); QC (1898); KCMG (1909); GCMG (1911); GCB (1916)
Born:
c1870
Memberships:
Women’s Federal League Sydney (1899)
Died:
1 September 1950, Rose Bay, Sydney
Honours:
GBE (1917)
Political profile
Terms as PM:
18 August 1904 – 5 July 1905
Terms as MP:
NSW Legislative Assembly: 1880–84, 1885–1901 (East Sydney); Premier 1894–99
House of Representatives: 9 May 1901 – 24 December 1909 (East Sydney)
Leader of the Opposition: 9 May 1901 – 17 August 1904; 7 July 1905 – 16 November 1908
House of Commons (UK): 10 January 1916 – 12 September 1918 (St George's Hanover Square)
Portfolios:
External Affairs: 18 August 1904 – 5 July 1905
Political memberships:
Free Trade and Liberal Association NSW (1889–91); Free Trade Party (leader c.1891–1901, NSW; leader 1901–06, federal); Anti-Socialist Party (1906–09)
After:
High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (22 January 1910 – 21 January 1916)
Quiz facts
- a Federation father
- only Free Trade Prime Minister
- only Australian to serve in all three legislatures – colonial, Commonwealth, and British
- nicknamed ‘Yes/No Reid’ by federationists
- his was the first Australian prime ministerial funeral, in 1918
- Dame Florence Reid was among the first four recipients in 1917 of the Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire