Edmund Barton

First years

Barton was born with Sydney in the district from Glebe. He was the ninth child of William Barton, a his wife and stockbroker Mary Louise. He made his primary and secondary studies in Sydney and was twice the major of these schools and it is there that he met his friend of all his life which was his/her political colleague thereafter Richard O' Connor. It made its higher learning at the university of Sydney where it was illustrated as player of Cricket. It is besides on a ground of cricket which it met in 1870 Jane Mason Ross that it married in 1877. It was named lawyer in 1871.

In 1879, Barton arbitrated part of cricket between the News-Wales of the South and an English team led by Lord Harris. After a disputed decision of the other referee, crowd invades the ground what was a first for a match of international cricket. The participation of Barton in the discussions was one of the elements which made it possible to calm the situation and made him a very good publicity for its talents of negotiator and some say that this helped it thereafter in its political career.

Political beginnings

In 1876 Barton was candidate with the Legislative Parliament for the University of Sydney but it was beaten by William Charles Windeyer by 49 votes against 43. It was beaten again in 1877 but was elected in August 1879. When its seat was removed in 1880, he was elected for the seat of Wellington of November 1880 in November 1882 then for that of Sydney East of November 1882 in January 1887. At that time it estimated that it was practically not necessary to justify its support for the free trade. In January 1889, it agreed to be appointed Ministre for Justice in the government Protectionniste of George Dibbs and this in spite of her former engagements for the free trade. This government lasted only until March when Parkes formed a new government.

Countryside for the federation

1891 Australasian National Convention

Barton was very early a fervent supporter of the creation of an Australian federal state what became a very important political subject after the speech of Henry Parkes with Tenterfield and he selected like was delegated to the " National Australasian Convention" in March 1891. To this convention it gave a support supported for the complete freedom of trade and communication in federal Australia. It was made the partisan of two elected parliamentary rooms and with the suppression of the right of call to the Private Council of the Queen. It also took part in a constitution project which is very close to that voted in 1900.

Barton passed most of the year 1902 in Great Britain where it assisted with the crowning of the king Edouard VII. This voyage was also the occasion to negotiate the replacement of the agreements of naval defense between the United Kingdom and the Australian colonies (agreements which provided the protection of Royal Navy in the event of naval attack of Australia by a foreign power) by an agreement between the United Kingdom and the australiennee federation.

Barton was a moderate conservative and good number of liberal truths of its party did not appreciate its attitude relaxed in the political life. Barton was a man corpulent, elegant, jovial, amateur of good expensive to whom one gave the nickname of " Toby Tosspot" (Jug addicted to drink) in The Bulletin. In September 1903, Barton left the Parliament to become one of the first judges of the High court. It was replaced at the post of Prime Minister by Deakin the September 24th.

Judge at the High court

At the High court, Barton was regarded as a good impartial judge who applied the same moderate preserving position that it had had in his political life. With his colleagues Samuel Griffith and O' Connor, it tried to preserve the autonomy of the states and developed an immunity of the federal civils servant, immunity which prevented the States from continuing them and, at the same time, prevented the federal government from arbitrating the arguments between states for the railway questions. He interpreted in a narrow way the capacities of the matter federal government commercial and industrial

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