George Reid

George Reid (1845–1918) was an Australian politician who served as prime minister from 1904 to 1905 and later led the opposition. He was also Australia’s first high commissioner in London.

Edmund Barton: Edmund Barton was Australia’s first prime minister and a leading advocate of federation. Reid succeeded Barton as prime minister in 1904.
Australian Parliament: Australia’s national legislature consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Reid governed through the federal parliament created at federation.
Prime Minister of Australia: The prime minister of Australia is the head of the federal government and its principal political leader. Reid held the office during a brief, consequential phase of its early development.
Free Trade Party: The Free Trade Party was an Australian political party that opposed protective tariffs in the federation era. Reid led the party that carried his free-trade program into federal politics.
Alfred Deakin: Alfred Deakin was an Australian statesman and prime minister during the early years of federation. Deakin’s government replaced Reid’s after losing parliamentary support in 1905.
Protectionism in Australia: Protectionism in Australia is the policy of using tariffs to shelter domestic industries from foreign competition. Tariff policy divided the parties Reid tried to reconcile.
Leader of the Opposition (Australia): The Leader of the Opposition is the leading figure of the largest party outside Australia’s federal government. Reid later held this role as party alignments changed.
Australian federal election, 1901: The 1901 Australian federal election was the first election for the new Commonwealth Parliament. Reid emerged as a leading federal politician in the inaugural election.
Chris Watson: Chris Watson was an Australian Labor politician and the first Labor prime minister. Watson briefly succeeded Reid as prime minister in 1904.
Free trade: Free trade is the exchange of goods and services with few or no tariffs or other trade barriers. Reid built his political identity around opposition to protective tariffs.

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