Voting Station

Edmund Barton

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World Leader

The Resume

    (January 18, 1849-January 7, 1920)
    Born in Glebe, New South Wales, Australia
    Served in the Parliament of New South Wales (1879-87,1891-94)
    First Prime Minister of Australia (1901-03)
    Justice of the High Court of Australia (1903-20)
    Named a Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George (1902)

Why he might be annoying:

    While serving as Attorney General of New South Wales, he also represented people suing the government. He resigned as Attorney General when the Parliament passed a motion banning such activities as a conflict of interest (1894).
    In the first election for a national Parliament (1901), he was elected to represent Hunter, despite not actually living there.
    As part of the 'White Australia' policy, he restricted immigration from Asia.
    He said, 'The doctrine of the equality of man was never intended to apply to the equality of the Englishman and the Chinaman.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He graduated from the University of Sydney with honors at age 19.
    He was a founding member of the Sydney Rowing Club (1874).
    He was one of the main organizers in getting the six self-governing colonies of Australia to unite as nation.
    As a High Court judge, he was considered 'scrupulously impartial.'
    The 'Sydney Morning Herald' wrote, 'His work will last as long as Australia remains a nation.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 82 Votes: 62.20% Annoying