Cowper ministry (1861–1863)

Last updated

Third Cowper ministry
7th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Charlescowper.jpg Australian states history 11.gif Australian states history 12.gif
Premier Charles Cowper and the Colony of New South Wales (1860–1862 and 1862)
Date formed10 January 1861 (1861-01-10)
Date dissolved15 October 1863 (1863-10-15)
People and organisations
Monarch Queen Victoria
Governor William Denison / Sir John Young
Head of government Charles Cowper
No. of ministers7
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leader
History
Predecessor First Robertson ministry
Successor First Martin ministry

The third Cowper ministry was the seventh ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and third occasion of being led by Charles Cowper.

Contents

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 on the first occasion, but he also lost the confidence of the Assembly a few months later. Cowper formed Government on the second occasion between 1857 and 1859; but it also lost the confidence of the Assembly. Cowper was again asked to form Government following the decision by Premier John Robertson to step aside and focus on land reform. [1] Each of the ministers retained their portfolios from the first Robertson ministry, with the only change being that Cowper replaced Robertson as the leader.

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 re-contest their seats in a by-election when appointed, [2] although in general the minister was re-elected unopposed. Because each of the ministers retained their appointments from the Robertson ministry, no by-elections were initially required. Charles Cowper Jr. was opposed at the 1861 by-election for The Tumut, but was comfortably re-elected. [3] Thomas Smart (The Glebe) was re-elected unopposed in May 1863, following his appointment as Colonial Treasurer. [4]

The appointment of John Darvall QC as Attorney General in 1863 however was controversial, not only as he was a conservative appointed to the liberal ministry, but because John Hargrave, who had been Attorney General since March 1860, accepted the lesser role of Solicitor General to allow Darvall to be appointed. [5] Darvall was challenged by his friend Henry Parkes at the East Maitland by-election in a campaign marked by person attacks. [6] [7] [8]

This ministry covers the period from 10 January 1861 until 15 October 1863, when Cowper was defeated amidst criticism of the ministry's financial management. [9] [10]

Composition of ministry

PortfolioMinisterTerm startTerm endTerm length
Premier Charles Cowper 10 January 186115 October 18632 years, 278 days
Colonial Secretary
10 January 1861 [lower-alpha 1] 2 years, 278 days
Colonial Treasurer Elias Weekes 20 March 18632 years, 69 days
Thomas Smart 21 March 186315 October 1863208 days
Secretary for Lands John Robertson MLA / MLC / MLA [lower-alpha 2] 10 January 1861 [lower-alpha 1] 2 years, 278 days
Secretary for Public Works William Arnold
Attorney General John Hargrave MLC 10 January 1861 [lower-alpha 1] 31 July 18632 years, 202 days
John Darvall QC [lower-alpha 3] 1 August 186315 October 186375 days
Solicitor General John Hargrave MLC [lower-alpha 3]
Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council 10 January 1861 [lower-alpha 1] 2 years, 278 days
Clerk of the Executive Council Charles Cowper Jr. 1 September 18612 years, 44 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

  1. 1 2 3 4 Continued in role from First Robertson ministry.
  2. John Robertson was appointed to the Legislative Council on 2 April 1861 to promote the Robertson land bills in the council, resigning on 1 October 1861 after they were passed and was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly.
  3. 1 2 John Hargrave accepted the lesser role of Solicitor General to allow John Darvall QC to be appointed Attorney General.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Martin (premier)</span> Australian politician

Sir James Martin, QC was three times Premier of New South Wales, and Chief Justice of New South Wales from 1873 to 1886.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Plunkett</span> Australian politician

John Hubert Plunkett was Attorney-General of New South Wales, an appointed member of the Legislative Council 1836–41, 1843–56, 1857–58 and 1861–69. He was also elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly 1856–60. He is best known for the prosecution of the colonists who brutally murdered 28 Aboriginals in the Myall Creek Massacre of 1838, seven of whom were convicted and hanged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hargrave (judge)</span> Australian politician

John Fletcher Hargrave was a British-born Australian politician and judge.

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly who served in the fourth parliament of New South Wales held their seats from 1860 to 1864:</ref> The Speaker was Terence Murray until 13 October 1862 and then John Hay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Darvall</span> Australian politician

Sir John Bayley Darvall was an Australian barrister, politician and beneficiary of slavery. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1844 and 1856 and again between 1861 and 1863. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for three periods between 1856 and 1865. He held the positions of Solicitor General and Attorney General in a number of short-lived colonial governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Faucett</span> Politician, barrister and judge in New South Wales, Australia

Peter Faucett was an Australian barrister, judge and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1856 and 1865. He held the position of Solicitor General in the first government of James Martin. He was a judge of the Supreme Court between 1865 and 1888 and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1888 and 1894.

The Parker ministry was the third ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by Henry Parker. Parker was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856 and, following the failure of the Donaldson and Cowper Governments to maintain the confidence of the Assembly, was asked to form Government.

The second Cowper ministry was the fourth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and second occasion of being led by Charles Cowper.

The fourth Cowper ministry was the ninth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and fourth occasion of being led by Charles Cowper.

The fifth Cowper ministry was the twelfth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and the fifth and final occasion of being led by Sir Charles Cowper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">See ministry</span> New South Wales government ministry led by John See

The See ministry was the 30th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 14th Premier, Sir John See. The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but was not a formal position in the government until 1920. Instead the Premier was appointed to another portfolio, usually Colonial Secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Wisdom (politician)</span> Politician and barrister in New South Wales, Australia

Sir Robert Wisdom, was a politician in colonial New South Wales and Attorney General of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Fitzgerald Burns</span> Australian politician

John Fitzgerald Burns was an Australian politician, member of the Parliament of New South Wales, Postmaster-General in the 1870s and Colonial Treasurer in the 1880s.

Charles Cowper Jr. was an Australian politician.

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council who served from 1856 to 1861 were appointed for a fixed term by the Governor on the advice of the Premier. The 1855 Constitution of New South Wales provided that the first council following self-government was for a period of 5 years from the first appointments, but that subsequent members would be appointed for life. The first appointments were on 13 May 1856 so that the first term lapsed on 13 May 1861. The number of members of the council had to be at least 21 and subsequent appointments also lapsed on 13 May 1861. The President was Sir Alfred Stephen until 28 January 1857, John Plunkett until 6 February 1858 and then Sir William Burton. Dumaresq resigned, 5 appointed, Murray appointed, Campbell resigned, Murray died, 3 appointed, Mayne resigned, 2 appointed, 2 appointed, Spain appointed, Walker died, Douglass appointed, Plunkett appointed, Tooth resigned, 2 appointed, 2 appointed, Knox resigned, Bloomfield resigned, Lethbridge resigned, Plunkett resigned, Busby resigned, Warren resigned, 5 appointed, 2 appointed, Lang appointed, Blake appointed, Dickinson resigned, Park appointed, Riley resigned, Spain resigned, Smith resigned, 3 appointed, Stephen resigned, Riddell vacated, Bayley appointed, Lutwyche resigned, Therry resigned, Bligh resigned, Pennington resigned, McNamara resigned, Eagar appointed, Hargrave appointed, Jenkins died, Dickson resigned, Wise resigned, Cowper appointed, Jones resigned, Montefiore resigned, 2 appointed, Wilshire died, A'Beckett vacated, Eagar resigned, Bland resigned, Robertson, 21 appointed, 20 resigned.</ref></ref>

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Orange on 4 November 1863. The by-election was triggered because James Martin had replaced Charles Cowper as Premier, establishing his first ministry. While the title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, it was not a formal position until 1920 and the Premier also held a formal position in the cabinet, in Martin's case this position was Attorney-General. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion, Peter Faucett (Yass), William Forster and Arthur Holroyd (Parramatta) were unopposed. The two other ministers, Geoffrey Eagar and Bowie Wilson were easily re-elected, with more than 90% of the vote.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of East Maitland on 11 August 1863 because John Darvall had been appointed Attorney General in the third Cowper ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion the appointment of Darvall was controversial, not only was he a conservative appointed to the liberal ministry, but because John Hargrave, who had been Attorney General since March 1860, accepted the lesser role of Solicitor General to allow Darvall to be appointed.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of West Sydney on 18 February 1865 because John Darvall had been appointed Attorney General, and John Robertson had been appointed Secretary for Lands in the fourth Cowper ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in East Sydney, The Glebe and West Sydney. Each minister was comfortably re-elected. Only The Paterson was uncontested.

West Sydney, an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales was created in 1859 and abolished in 1894.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of The Williams on 22 January 1866 because Marshall Burdekin had been appointed Colonial Treasurer in the fourth Cowper ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required at both The Williams and West Sydney. Both Robertson and Burdekin were defeated, with the Cowper government falling, replaced by the second Martin ministry.

References

  1. Nairn, Bede. "Robertson, Sir John (1816–1891)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Melbourne University Press. ISSN   1833-7538 . Retrieved 15 December 2020 via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp.  442. ISBN   9781862875166 . Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. Green, Antony. "1861 The Tumut by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  4. Green, Antony. "1863 The Glebe by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. A barrister of England, New South Wales and Victoria (4 August 1863). "To the editor: Mr Darvall's appointment as Attorney General". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 5. Retrieved 5 September 2020 via Trove.
    Holroyd, Arthur (5 August 1863). "To the editor: Mr Darvall's appointment as Attorney General". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2020 via Trove.
    A barrister of England, New South Wales and Victoria (6 August 1863). "To the editor: Mr Darvall's appointment as Attorney General". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 5. Retrieved 5 September 2020 via Trove.
  6. "Nomination for East Maitland". The Sydney Morning Herald . 12 August 1863. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 5 September 2020 via Trove.
  7. "East Maitland election". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser . 13 August 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2020 via Trove.
  8. Rathbone, R W. "Darvall, Sir John Bayley (1809 - 1883)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Melbourne University Press. ISSN   1833-7538 . Retrieved 5 September 2020 via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  9. Ward, John M. "Cowper, Sir Charles (1807–1875)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Melbourne University Press. ISSN   1833-7538 . Retrieved 15 December 2020 via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  10. Part 6 Ministries since 1856 (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 15 December 2020.

 

Preceded by Third Cowper ministry
1861–1863
Succeeded by