born on 25 February 1845 at Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland; family arrived in
Melbourne 1852
From middle age onwards he was very heavy, had a droopy moustache, wispy, sandy hair and
he wore an eyeglass. He also used to doze off in public. He was ‘a brilliant debater,
with a flashing wit’.
My name is George Reid and I represent ‘Young and free’ because I believed
firmly in free trade at the time Australia was planning to become a federated nation and I
was prime minister from August 1904 to June 1905.
1901-2001 Centenary of
Federation