Cowper ministry (1856)

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First Cowper ministry
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
2nd Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Charlescowper.jpg Australian states history 09.gif
Premier Charles Cowper and the Colony of New South Wales (1856–1859)
Date formed25 August 1856 (1856-08-25)
Date dissolved2 October 1856 (1856-10-02)
People and organisations
Monarch Queen Victoria
Governor William Denison
Head of government Charles Cowper
No. of ministers6
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leader
History
Predecessor Donaldson ministry
Successor Parker ministry

The first Cowper ministry was the second ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by Charles Cowper. It was the first of five occasions that Cowper was Leader of the Government. Cowper was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856, and fought unsuccessfully with Stuart Donaldson to form Government. When Donaldson's Government faltered a little over two months after it was formed, Cowper formed Government. [1]

Contents

The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but not enshrined in formal use until 1920.

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. [2] Charles Cowper and Robert Campbell were comfortably re-elected in the by election for Sydney City. [3] James Martin (Cook and Westmoreland) [4] and Terence Murray (Southern Boroughs) [5] were re-elected unopposed.

This ministry covers the period from 26 August 1856 until on 2 October 1856, when Cowper resigned his commission, having lost the confidence of the Assembly. [1] [6]

Composition of ministry

PortfolioMinisterTerm startTerm endTerm length
Premier
Colonial Secretary
Charles Cowper 26 August 18562 October 185637 days
Colonial Treasurer Robert Campbell
Attorney General James Martin
Solicitor General
Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council
Alfred Lutwyche MLC
Secretary for Lands and Works Terence Murray
Auditor-General 17 September 185623 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

Related Research Articles

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A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Sydney Hamlets on 17 June 1856 because Stuart Donaldson was appointed Colonial Secretary forming the Donaldson ministry. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. Of the other ministers, John Darvall comfortably won the by-election for Cumberland North Riding. Thomas Holt and Bob Nichols were re-elected unopposed. William Manning was not required to resign as he held the office of Solicitor-General at the time of his election.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp.  442. ISBN   9781862875166 . Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. Green, Antony. "1856 Sydney City by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  4. Green, Antony. "1856 Cook and Westmoreland by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  5. Green, Antony. "1856 Southern Boroughs by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  6. Ward, John M. "Cowper, Sir Charles (1807–1875)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN   978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN   1833-7538. OCLC   70677943 . Retrieved 22 November 2020.

 

Preceded by First Cowper ministry
1856
Succeeded by