Peter Lalor ( February 5 1827 â `` February 9 1889 ) was the leader of the Eureka Stockade rebellion , one of Australia 's few violent protests and seen by many as the start of democracy in Australia . Peter Fintan Lalor ( , locally ( Ë loË lÉ ) ; 5 February 1827 â `` 9 February 1889 ) was an activist turned politician who rose to fame for his leading role in the Eureka Rebellion , an event controversially identified with the `` birth of democracy '' in Australia .