Sir Edmund "Toby" Barton, GCMG, KC (January 18, 1849 –January 7, 1920) is an Australian politician and judge who serves as the first prime minister of Australia from 1901 to 1903, holding office as the leader of the Protectionist Party. He resigns to become a founding member of the High Court of Australia, where he serves until his death.
Barton is an early supporter of the federation of the Australian colonies, the goal of which he summarizes as "a nation for a continent, and a continent for a nation".
After the retirement of Henry Parkes he comes to be seen as the leader of the federation movement in New South Wales.
He is a delegate to the constitutional conventions, playing a key role in the drafting of a national constitution, and is one of the lead campaigners for federation in the subsequent referendums.
In late 1900, despite the initial "Hopetoun Blunder", Barton is commissioned to form a caretaker government as Australia's first prime minister.
His term begins on 1 January 1901, the date on which federation occurs.
At the first federal election in March 1901, Barton and the Protectionists win the most seats, but are well short of a majority.
He is able to continue on as a prime minister by forming an alliance with the fledgling Australian Labor Party (ALP), which holds the balance of power
The Barton Government establishes a number of new national institutions, including the Australian Defence Force and the Commonwealth Public Service.
It introduces nation-wide women's suffrage, and lays the foundations of the White Australia policy with the Immigration Restriction Act 1901.
Barton leaves politics in 1903 to become one of the three founding members of the High Court, which his government has created.
He is succeeded as prime minister by Alfred Deakin.
On the court, Barton is able to shape the judicial interpretation of the constitution he had helped write.
