Chris Watson Becomes Prime Minister

Date: April 27, 1904 • Location: Canberra, Australia

Chris Watson became the first prime minister of Australia from the Australian Labor Party.

John Christian Watson was the third prime minister of Australia, serving from April to August 1904. He held office as the inaugural federal leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 1901 to 1907 and was the first member of the party to serve as prime minister.