Born: 18th January 1849, Glebe, Sydney, NSW, Aus

Died : 7th January 1920 (Aged 70), Medlow Bath, NSW, Aus.

He was born in the suburb of Glebe, the ninth child of William Barton, a stockbroker, and Mary Louise Barton.

He was educated at Fort Street High School and Sydney Grammar School. He was Also class Captain Twice in his School Twice.

Sydney Grammar School

During School Edmund Barton, met his long life friend Justice of the High Court of Australia Richard O’Connor.

Richard O’Connor

Edmund demonstrated Good skill at batting (but not in fielding) at cricket. Barton became a barrister in 1871. On a cricket trip to Newcastle in 1870, he met Jane Mason Ross, whom he married in 1877.

In 1876 Barton stood for the Legislative Assembly in the poll of the graduates of the University of Sydney (who were required to wear gowns for the occasion), but was beaten by William Charles Windeyer 49 votes to 43

William Charles Windeyer

Edmund (fatty)

Barton's greatest contribution to Australian history was his management of the federation movement through the 1890s. Elected at the inaugural 1901 federal election, Barton resigned from the position of Prime Minister of Australia in 1903 and became a judge of Australia's High Court.

Dibbs formed a Protectionist government and Barton agreed to be Attorney General with the right of carry out private practice as a lawyer. His agreement was based on Dibbs agreeing to support federal resolutions in the coming parliamentary session

A lot of People Doubted that he could get Prime Minister and a lot believed he did not Deserve to be the First Prime Minister of the New Federation

However, since no federal Parliament had yet been established, the usual convention of appointing the leader of the largest party in the lower house could not apply.

Alfred Deakin was also aiming for Prime Minister, However he was the 2nd Prime Minister as Barton got it First on 1 January 1901

Barton

Deakin

As Deakin did not get Prime Minister, he did get Attorney – General. And the Government consisted of Barton as Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs, Alfred Deakin as Attorney-General, Sir William Lyne as Minister for Home Affairs, Sir George Turner as Treasurer and a lot of others including Richard O’ Connor.

For much of 1902 Barton was in England for the coronation of King Edward VII. This trip was also used to negotiate the replacement of the naval agreements between the Australian colonies and the United Kingdom

On the bench Barton was considered a good and "scrupulously impartial" judge and adopted the same position of moderate conservatism he had taken in politics.

Barton died of heart failure at the Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath, New South Wales. He was interred in South Head General Cemetery in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse (see Waverley Cemetery).

Barton refused knighthoods in 1887, 1891 and 1899, but agreed to be made a Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George in 1902.He received an honorary LL.D. from the University of Cambridge in 1900.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Barton

Jacob Pistrin 8Y