George Reid

Politician

  • Born: February 25, 1845
  • Birthplace: Johnstone, Scotland
  • Died: September 12, 1918
  • Place of death: London, England

Also known as: George Houston Reid; George Houstoun Reid

Significance: George Reid was a lawyer, public servant, and politician who played a key role in the development of Australia’s government in the early years of federation. He served as a colonial premier of New South Wales as well as Australia’s prime minister and high commissioner to the United Kingdom, and ended his political career as a representative in the British House of Commons.

Background

George Reid was born on February 25, 1845, in Johnstone, Scotland. He was the fifth of seven children of Marian and John Reid. The family moved to Liverpool, England, shortly after his birth and then to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, when he was seven. He attended Melbourne Academy (later known as Scotch College), a Presbyterian secondary school, until 1857, when the family moved to Sydney, New South Wales.

At thirteen Reid began working as a junior clerk in a merchant’s counting house. He joined the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Debating Society at fifteen. There he gained exposure to many scholars, politicians, and activists and developed a reputation as a skillful debater. A member of the Young Men’s Presbyterian Union, he was its secretary during the 1860s.

In 1864 Reid became an assistant accountant at the colonial treasury. He rapidly advanced at the treasury and was promoted to chief branch clerk in 1874. Meanwhile, he studied law, and four years later he moved to the Crown Law Office as the secretary, or head, of the attorney general’s department.

Reid completed his legal studies and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He then founded a law practice in Sydney and resigned from the Crown Law Office so he could pursue political ambitions. He continued his law practice for several decades, taking both criminal and civil cases, as his political career developed.

In 1880 Reid was elected to the Parliament of New South Wales as one of four members representing East Sydney. He served as the minister of public instruction for fourteen months in 1883 and 1884 and implemented many educational initiatives, including the establishment of several secondary schools. Reid lost the 1884 election but returned to parliament the next year.

In 1889 he was one of the founding members of the Free Trade and Liberal Association of New South Wales, which became one of Australia’s three major political parties in the decade leading to Federation. The party stood for free trade and direct taxation. Two years later, he was elected party leader and became leader of the opposition in the New South Wales parliament.

In 1894 Reid changed electorates, representing Sydney-King. Later that year he helped Free Trade secure victory in the July election, and he became the premier and colonial treasurer of New South Wales. During his five-year tenure as premier and treasurer, he passed the Public Service Act (1895) and the Australian Federation Enabling Act (1895) and implemented several fiscal reforms. The Federation Enabling Act combined the six separate self-governing British colonies of Australia, including New South Wales, into a single Commonwealth; eventually, Canberra was chosen as the new capital. Though he expressed concerns over Federation, Reid's ultimate support was important and influential. Reid also briefly served as attorney general in mid-1899 but resigned his posts after losing the support of the Labor Party.

Prime Minister and Beyond

Reid won a seat in Australia’s first federal parliament in 1901, for the East Sydney electorate. He led the opposition to the Labor government from 1901 to 1904. Those years were marked by much dissention over the direction of the country, with Reid leading the debates for free trade and making the first censure motion in 1901 over a tariff proposal. Another contentious issue was the Arbitration Bill. Introduced during the first federal government, under Prime Minister Chris Watson, the bill attempted to establish federal powers over industrial disputes; Reid opposed it. The dispute led to the fall of Watson’s Labor government and Reid’s appointment as prime minister on August 18, 1904.

Reid allied with a subset of the protectionists and took the external affairs portfolio. He passed the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904, which established a court to hear industrial disputes, and created Empire Day, a national holiday celebrated annually on May 24 until 1958. However, the political turmoil of the time continued as various alliances were made and broken. When rival Alfred Deakin, a protectionist, aligned with Labor, Reid was lost the government and resigned on July 5, 1905, after just over ten months in power.

Succeeded by Deakin, Reid led the opposition for three years. In 1906 he merged the Free Trade Party with several anti-Labor groups to form the Anti-Socialist Party and became its leader. Yet by 1908 the Labor Party had strengthened, which hindered the Anti-Socialists’ ability to form alliances with other political parties. Reid resigned from party leadership in November 1908 and from parliament in December 1909.

Reid was appointed Australia’s first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and served in that capacity from 1910 to 1916. His achievements included preparing for World War I (1914-1918), advocating on behalf of Australian troops, and launching Australia’s first battleship, HMAS Australia. He also oversaw immigration.

After Reid resigned, he successfully ran for the St. George’s Hanover Square seat in the British House of Commons. During his last two years, Reid wrote his autobiography, My Reminiscences (1917), and went on a speaking tour of the United States. He died of a stroke in London, England, on September 12, 1918.

Impact

Reid is considered a key figure in Australia’s early political history, though not as well remembered as some other prime ministers. He provided crucial support for Federation as premier of New South Wales and subsequently played an important role in forming Australia’s federal government. As prime minister, he succeeded in passing key legislation that three succeeding governments had failed to achieve and, as a diplomat, increased Australia’s visibility and prestige to the British and improved the two countries’ relations.

Personal Life

Reid was known for eccentricities that made him popular with political cartoonists, but he was also respected as a strong speaker and had a strong sense of humor.

Reid and Florence “Flora” Brumby married in November 1891, and they had three children. Florence Reid took an active role in her husband’s diplomatic activities in London and received the Dame Grand Cross for her work with injured Australians during World War I.

Bibliography

Church, Nathan. “Sir George Houston Reid (1845–1918): Premier, Prime Minister, High Commissioner, and Member of the UK House of Commons.” Parliament of Australia, 9 Dec. 2018, www.aph.gov.au/About‗Parliament/Parliamentary‗Departments/Parliamentary‗Library/FlagPost/2018/September/George‗Reid. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.

“George Reid.” Australia’s Prime Ministers, National Archives of Australia, primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/reid. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.

“George Reid.” National Museum of Australia, www.nma.gov.au/explore/features/prime-ministers/george-reid. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.

Headon, David. “Forgotten Founder: George Houstoun Reid.” Australian Studies Institute, 11 Sept. 2018, ausi.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/docs/2019/5/Reid‗lecture‗by‗Dr‗David‗Headon‗Australia‗House‗London‗Sept‗2018.pdf. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.

McMinn, W. G. “Reid, Sir George Houston (1845–1918).” Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1988, adb.anu.edu.au/biography/reid-sir-george-houstoun-8173/text14289. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.