12 Facts About Jane Barton

Jane Mason "Jeanie" Barton was the wife of Sir Edmund Barton, the 1st Prime Minister of Australia from 1901 to 1903.

Jane Barton was born in London, England, one of three children born to Euphemia and David Ross.

Jane Barton was popular in the community and served as an alderman.

Jane Barton's wife died soon after the family arrived in Australia, and the children were largely raised by their aunt Ellen Home, who lived with them.

Jane Barton visited him the following month and was introduced to his parents, with an engagement following.

Jane Barton converted from Presbyterianism to Anglicanism for her husband, although she was more religious than him.

Jane Barton was a member of the first committee of the Crown Street Women's Hospital.

Jane Barton shared her husband's enthusiasm for the federation movement, and served as a vice-president of the Sydney Women's Federal League.

Jane Barton was the hostess of her husband's open-house meetings on the subject of federation, whose attendees included prominent federationists like Robert Garran, Atlee Hunt and Thomas Bavin.

Jane Barton did accompany her husband to the 1902 Colonial Conference in London, and attended the coronation of King Edward VII; she was tasked with presenting Queen Alexandra with a possum-fur carriage rug as a gift of New South Wales.

In 1912, Jane Barton was a founding member of the Queens Club in Sydney, and was chosen as the inaugural club president.

Jane Barton was widowed in 1920, and from 1922 to 1927 lived in England with her son Wilfrid and his family.