Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896) was a prominent Australian statesman and a key figure in the movement towards Australian federation. Often referred to as the "Father of Federation," Parkes played a crucial role in advocating for the unification of the Australian colonies into a single nation. He served as Premier of New South Wales five times and was instrumental in organizing the 1891 Federation Convention in Sydney, which laid the groundwork for the drafting of the Australian Constitution. Parkes' efforts and leadership were pivotal in achieving the federation of Australia in 1901.