Background
The youngest of nine surviving children of William and Mary Louise Barton. Two years later the Bartons moved to Cumberland Street in The Rocks, and when he was seven 'Toby' Barton was enrolled at the nearby Fort Street Model School.
He married Jane (Jeanie) Mason Ross in 1877, and they had six children.
Education
From the age of ten Barton attended Sydney Grammar School in College Street, and met his lifelong friend Richard O'Connor.
Twice dux of the school and school captain, Barton went on to an equally brilliant record at the University of Sydney. He was 19 years old when he graduated in 1868 with first class honours in classics. He had also achieved renown in the University Cricket Club.
Career
He became a barrister in 1871 and set up a successful legal practice. He joined the Sydney Mechanics Institute to learn the art of debating.
Barton entered New South Wales colonial politics in 1877, standing unsuccessfully as a candidate for the University seat in the Legislative Assembly, but winning the seat in 1879. He switched to the Wellington seat in 1880, then in 1882 to East Sydney, which he held until 1887.
He was an appointed member of the Legislative Council, then regained East Sydney in 1891, held it until 1894 and then lost it again. He became a member of the Legislative Council again from 1897 to 1898, and was then re-elected to the Legislative Assembly for Hastings-Macleay, which he represented from 1897 to 1899.
e held various positions while a member of colonial parliament, including Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 1883-87, Attorney-General 1889 and 1891-93, and Leader of the Opposition from 1898 to 1899.
On 9 July 1900 Queen Victoria gave Royal Assent to the Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia. On 18 July 1900 Lord Hopetoun, former governor of Victoria (1889-95), was named as inaugural Governor-General of Australia. Governor-General Lord Hopetoun commissioned Barton as Australia's first Prime Minister on 31 December 1900.
On Tuesday 1 January 1901 Lord Hopetoun proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia as a federation of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia (these former colonies are now called states), and swore in Barton's ministry at a huge public Commonwealth inauguration ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney. Barton gained electoral confirmation of his appointment as Prime Minister when his Protectionists won more seats than either of the other main groupings, Free Traders and Labor, at the first general election on 29-30 March 1901. Barton won the seat of Hunter, New South Wales, and became Minister for External Affairs as well as Prime Minister.
Barton resigned as Prime Minister on 24 September 1903 to become a foundation member of the newly established High Court of Australia, becoming one of two judges serving with the inaugural Chief Justice SW Griffith.
Barton served on the High Court for over 16 years, until his death.
Barton refused knighthoods in 1887, 1891 and 1899, but agreed to be made a Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George in 1902.