“I have now become a mere juggler with myself [...] my helpless attempts to read the riddle of my mind and thought must be frankly abandoned”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin was an Australian politician who served as the second prime minister of Australia from 1903 to 1904, 1905 to 1908, and 1909 to 1910. He held office as the leader of the Protectionist Party, and in his final term as that of the Liberal Party. He is notable for being one of the fathers of Federation and for his influence in early Australian politics.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
culture · Prime Minister of Australia (1903–1904; 1905–1908; 1909–1910) · politician · diplomat · journalist · poet · also Alfred Deakin, The Honourable Alfred Deakin, Deakin
Born 3 August 1856 · Died 7 October 1919 · Q313805
57 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
14 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 1 entry
2023· 1 entry
Sydney Morning Herald: Alfred Deakin, architect of modern Australia … and white supremacist
- #news
- #headline
1969· 1 entry
Australia Post honoured him on a postage stamp bearing his portrait
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1944· 1 entry
And is a vital primary source for this history
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1920· 1 entry
Alfred Deakin Brookes (1920–2005) – first head of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
1919· 1 entry
Died 1919-10-07.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
1915· 2 entries
“no collapse could be ghastlier”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
When he was representing Australia at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1914· 2 entries
“no continuity of memory or argument”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Following the outbreak of World War I, he did accept a request to chair a royal commission into food supply during the war
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1913· 1 entry
In the early stages of a degenerative neurological condition that led to his death at the age of 63
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1911· 1 entry
Which would have significantly expanded the powers of the federal government
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1909· 3 entries
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Australia (1909–1910).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
In what became known as the Fusion, Deakin controversially led his supporters into a union with the Free Traders
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Followed by invalid pensions the following year
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1908· 3 entries
Invited Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet to visit Australia, in a symbolic act of independence from Britain
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Who ruled it for a 32-year period as a benevolent paternalist
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Deakin was again forced from office by Labor
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1907· 1 entry
Was made an honorary freeman of the cities of London and Edinburgh and an honorary bencher of Gray's Inn
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1906· 5 entries
An Excise Tariff (Agricultural Machinery) Act was introduced that exempted domestic manufacturers from excise duty if (as noted by one study) “they could show they were paying a fair and reasonable wage
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology was established in 1908 and the Quarantine Act 1908 was passed
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
That “While the Liberal Party stands for all classes of the community, the anti-Liberal Party stands for the privileged classes in defence of vested interests
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Announced that Australia would purchase destroyers, and in 1907 travelled to an Imperial Conference in London to discuss the issue, without success
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Deakin's government amended the Judiciary Act to increase the size of the High Court to five judges, as envisaged in the constitution, and appointed Isaac Isaacs and H
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1905· 2 entries
Career landmark: Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia) (1905–1908).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Australia (1905–1908).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1904· 1 entry
Deakin purchased 7 acres (2
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1903· 3 entries
Campaign: 1903 election and the "three elevens".
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #election
- #campaign
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Australia (1903–1904).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
And 1906 produced an even split between three parties, with Deakin's Liberal Protectionist Party occupying an effective middle ground between the Free Traders and the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1902· 1 entry
That the Commonwealth would take over such funding from the colonies
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1901· 4 entries
Career landmark: Attorney-General for Australia (1901–1903).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: member of the Australian House of Representatives (1901–1913).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Deakin was elected to the first federal Parliament as MP for the Division of Ballaarat, and became Attorney-General of Australia in the ministry headed by Edmund Barton
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Deakin became the inaugural Attorney-General of Australia in the ministry led by his close friend Edmund Barton
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1900· 3 entries
1907, and 1913 – he refused appointment to the Privy Council, which would have entitled him to be styled "The Right Honourable"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Deakin travelled to London with Edmund Barton and Charles Kingston to oversee the passage of the federation bill through the Imperial Parliament, and took part in the negotiations with Joseph Chamberlain, the Colonial Se
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And 1907, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Cambridge in 1912
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1892· 1 entry
Unsuccessfully defended the mass murderer Frederick Bailey Deeming and assisted the defence in the 1893–94 libel trial of David Syme
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1890· 2 entries
Which agreed to hold an intercolonial convention to draft a federal constitution
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Over its use of the militia to protect non-union labour during the maritime strike
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1889· 2 entries
Became the member for the Melbourne seat of Essendon and Flemington
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1889–1900).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1888· 2 entries
As an example relevant to his work for Federation, Deakin prayed: "Oh God, grant me that judgment & foresight which will enable me to serve my country – guide me and strengthen me, so that I may follow & persuade others
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
“that is the one thing needful – the only revelation required is there... We have but to live it.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
1887· 2 entries
Led Victoria's delegation to the Imperial Conference in London, where he argued forcibly for reduced colonial payments for the defence provided by the British Navy and for improved consultation concerning the New Hebr
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
They lived with Deakin's parents until 1887, when they moved to "Llanarth", in Walsh Street, South Yarra.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
1885· 1 entry
Deakin secured the passage of the colony's pioneering Factories and Shops Act, enforcing regulation of employment conditions and hours of work
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1883· 1 entry
Aligning himself with liberal and radical reformers
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1882· 1 entry
Deakin married Elizabeth Martha Anne ("Pattie") Browne, daughter of a well-known spiritualist
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1880· 2 entries
Career landmark: Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1880–1889).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Became editor of The Leader, The Age's weekly
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1879· 2 entries
Aged 23, additionally working as a barrister and journalist
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1879–1879).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1875· 1 entry
Published Quentin Massys, a drama in five acts
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1871· 1 entry
Aged 15, Deakin passed the matriculation exam for the University of Melbourne
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1856· 1 entry
Born 1856-08-03.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth