Peter Lalor (Under The Southern Cross)

Peter Lalor was the first president of, and prior was the commander-in-chief of the Australian Army during the.

Born in 1827 in Ireland, Peter immigrated to Australia in 1852. There, he participated in the in. On December 3, 1854, he led the initial miners' rebellion forces to victory at the Battle of Eureka Stockade, marking the beginning of the Australian War for Independence. Lalor became commander-in-chief of the newly created Australian Army, and led Australian troops throughout the war, all the way up to the British surrender at Perth. After the war's conclusion, Lalor retired from military service and ran for president, leading to a landslide victory; Lalor began his term as the first president of Australia on January 1, 1861. He served two terms before his vice president,, was elected and inaugurated in 1869.

After his presidency, Lalor retired from politics to a private life. At age 62, Peter Lalor died a national hero on February 8, 1889. After perhaps the largest funeral in Australian history, Lalor was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery.