Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896), regarded as the 'Father of Federation', had already served more than fifty years in public life when he embarked on the most ambitious political cause of his career. In 1889, Parkes dedicated himself to uniting the separate colonies of Australia under one federal government. By 1890, Parkes' political skill had succeeded in winning a Federation Conference in Melbourne (attended by all Australian and New Zealand colonies). The conference agreed a Federal Convention should meet in Sydney the following year to draw up a constitution for a federated Australia. In less than one year, Parkes had set the wheels in motion. Throughout the meetings of the convention, Parkes was the figurehead and maker of inspirational speeches.