Reid ministry

Reid ministry
4th Ministry of Australia
Group photo of the Reid ministry with Governor-General Lord Northcote.
Date formed	17 August 1904
Date dissolved	5 July 1905
People and organisations
Monarch	Edward VII
Governor-General	Lord Northcote
Prime Minister	George Reid
No. of ministers	8
Member party	Free Trade
Status in legislature	Minority government (Protectionist support)
Opposition party	Labour
Opposition leader	Chris Watson
History
Legislature term	2nd
Predecessor	Watson ministry
Successor	Second Deakin ministry

The Reid ministry (Free Trade) was the 4th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 4th Prime Minister, George Reid. The Reid ministry succeeded the Watson ministry, which dissolved on 17 August 1904 after the Protectionist Party withdrew their support and Chris Watson was forced to resign. Due to having to rely on the Protectionists to retain office, half of the ministry was forced to accommodate conservative Protectionists - leading to the government to sometimes be referred to as the Reid-McLean Ministry. The ministry was replaced by the Second Deakin ministry on 5 July 1905 after the Protectionists withdrew their support and returned to office with the support of the Labour Party.^[1]

James Drake, who died in 1941, was the last surviving member of the Reid ministry; Drake was also the last surviving minister of the Barton government and the First Deakin ministry. Sir Josiah Symon was the last surviving Free Trade minister.