John Christian Watson , commonly known as Chris Watson, Australian politician, was the third Prime Minister of Australia. He was the first prime minister from the Australian Labour Party , and the first Labour Party prime minister in the world. He was elected to parliament at the first federal election in March 1901. The Caucus chose him as the inaugural parliamentary leader of the Labour Party on 8 May 1901, just in time for the first meeting of parliament. His term as Prime Minister was brief - only four months, between April and August 1904, but his party did hold the balance of power, giving support to Protectionist Party legislation in exchange for concessions to enact the Labour Party policy platform. According to Percival Serle, Watson "left a much greater impression on his time than this would suggest. He came at the right moment for his party, and nothing could have done it more good than the sincerity, courtesy and moderation which he always showed as a leader." He retired from parliament in 1907.