[1] Alfred Deakin (1856–1919) – a barrister, journalist and important Federation era politician – was born in Melbourne in 1856.

[2] Deakin was a fine orator and major player in the establishment of the institutions of Australian democracy, and served three times in the office of prime minister during the first ten years after Australia's federation.

[3] Alfred Deakin first became prime minister after Edmund Barton resigned to become a judge on the first High Court of Australia.

[4] The first Deakin government failed to pass any legislation in the newly formed Australian Federal Parliament.

Watson encouraged Alfred Deakin to abandon the Free Traders, saying: "We, and especially me, don't want office, but I have the utmost anxiety to stop the retrogressive movement which Reid is heading."