Sir George Houstoun Reid (1845-1918)

Prime Minister of Australia, 1904-1905

George Houstoun Reid's family moved to Liverpool soon after he was born and emigrated to Australia a few years later. He worked at the Treasury in Sydney before being admitted to the Bar in 1879. A year later he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly but continued with his legal practice. He became leader of the Free Trade Party in 1894, won the general election held that year and served as premier of New South Wales until 1899. During this period he was involved in negotiations for a federal constitution. He was Prime Minister from 1904 to 1905 at the head of a coalition government. He was appointed First High Commissioner to London in 1909. He died at his home there on 13 September 1918.

Birth in 1845

George Houstoun Reid was born on 25 February 1845, the son of the Reverend John Reid of Johnstone and Marion Crybbace. The entry in the Old Parish Register (OPR) for Abbey (Paisley) includes the date 24 April 1845 in a column headed 'Registered'.

Birth and baptism entry for George Houstoun Reid (8 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, OPR 559/7, page 322