George Reid (Australian politician)

George Houstoun Reid (25 February 1845 – 12 September 1918), Australian politician and fourth Prime Minister of Australia, was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, son of a Church of Scotland minister, migrated to Victoria with his family as a child. His family was one of many Presbyterian families brought out from Scotland by Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang. He was educated at what later became Scotch College, but when the family moved to Sydney Reid obtained a job as a clerk. Joining the colonial public service, he rose rapidly and in 1878 he became head of the Attorney-General's department. He also published several books on political questions, notably free trade.

See also

• Reid Ministry