Martin ministry (1866–1868)

Last updated

Second Martin ministry
10th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Justice James Martin.jpg Australian states history 13.gif
Premier James Martin and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed22 January 1866 (1866-01-22)
Date dissolved26 October 1868 (1868-10-26)
People and organisations
Monarch Queen Victoria
Governor Sir John Young / The Earl Belmore
Head of government James Martin
No. of ministers9
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leader
History
Predecessor Fourth Cowper ministry
Successor Second Robertson ministry

The second Martin ministry was the tenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and second of three occasions of being led by James Martin QC.

Contents

Martin was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856. He came to power as Premier on the first occasion after he defeated Charles Cowper's government fell in October 1863. [1] Martin was asked to form government on the second occasion, this time in coalition with his former rival, Henry Parkes, after Cowper again lost the confidence of the Assembly in December 1865. [1]

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] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and each of James Martin (The Lachlan), Henry Parkes (Kiama), James Byrnes (Parramatta) and Geoffrey Eagar (West Sydney) were re-elected unopposed. A poll was required in Patrick's Plains (Bowie Wilson) and Yass Plains (Robert Isaacs) however both ministers were comfortably re-elected with more than 70% of the vote. [3]

This ministry covers the period from 22 January 1866 until 26 October 1868, when Martin resigned. [4]

Composition of ministry

PortfolioMinisterTerm startTerm endTerm length
Premier
Attorney-General
James Martin 22 January 186626 October 18682 years, 278 days
Colonial Secretary Henry Parkes 17 September 18682 years, 239 days
Joseph Docker MLC 28 September 186826 October 186828 days
Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council 22 January 18662 years, 278 days
Colonial Treasurer Geoffrey Eagar
Secretary for Lands Bowie Wilson
Secretary for Public Works James Byrnes
Solicitor General Robert Isaacs
Postmaster-General Joseph Docker MLC 22 January 186627 September 18682 years, 249 days
Atkinson Tighe 29 September 186826 October 186827 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Cowper</span> Australian politician

Sir Charles Cowper, was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five occasions from 1856 to 1870.

<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.

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.

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly who served in the sixth parliament of New South Wales held their seats from 1869 to 1872.</ref> The 1869–70 election was held between 3 December 1869 and 10 January 1870 with parliament first meeting on 27 January 1870. There were 72 members elected for 52 single member electorates, 6 two member electorates and 2 four member electorates. Due to a change in the Constitution of New South Wales the maximum term of this parliament was reduced from 5 years to 3. However the assembly was dissolved after only 25 months after the third government of Sir James Martin lost a vote of supply. The Speaker was William Arnold.

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.

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 Forster ministry was the fifth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by William Forster. Forster was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856. He was asked to form Government after the second Cowper ministry lost an educational bill in the Assembly.

The first Robertson ministry was the sixth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by John Robertson. It was the first of five occasions that Robertson was Premier. Robertson was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856.

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

The first Martin ministry was the eighth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and first occasion of being led by James Martin QC.

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 second Robertson ministry was the eleventh ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by John Robertson. It was the second of five occasions that Robertson was Leader of the Government. Robertson was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856.

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.

The third Martin ministry was the thirteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and the third and final occasion of being led by Sir James Martin.

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 Sydney on 17 February 1865 because Charles Cowper had been appointed Premier and Colonial Secretary, forming 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.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of The Glebe on 17 February 1865 because Thomas Smart 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 in East Sydney, The Glebe and West Sydney. Each minister was comfortably re-elected. Only The Paterson was uncontested.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of West Sydney on 30 October 1863 because Geoffrey Eagar had been appointed Colonial Treasurer in the first Martin ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion, Peter Faucett (Yass), William Forster and Arthur Holroyd (Parramatta) were unopposed. The other minister Bowie Wilson was easily re-elected, with more than 90% of the vote. James Martin had replaced Charles Cowper as Premier and Charles Cowper Jr. resigned his seat of The Tumut to challenge Martin at the Orange by-election. While defeated, Martin promptly returned to parliament, winning the by-election for The Tumut, the seat vacated by Charles Cowper Jr.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Yass Plains on 8 February 1866 because Robert Isaacs had been appointed Solicitor General in the second Martin ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in Patrick's Plains and Yass Plains. Both ministers were comfortably re-elected with more than 70% of the vote. The other ministers James Martin, Henry Parkes (Kiama), James Byrnes (Parramatta) and Geoffrey Eagar were re-elected unopposed.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Patrick's Plains on 8 February 1866 because Bowie Wilson had been appointed Secretary for Lands in the second Martin ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in Patrick's Plains and Yass Plains. Both ministers were comfortably re-elected with more than 70% of the vote. The other ministers James Martin, Henry Parkes (Kiama), James Byrnes (Parramatta) and Geoffrey Eagar were re-elected unopposed.

References

  1. 1 2 Serle, Percival (1949). "Martin, James". Dictionary of Australian Biography . Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  2. Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp.  442. ISBN   9781862875166 . Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. Green, Antony. "1865 to 1869 by-elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  4. Part 6 Ministries since 1856 (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 17 December 2020.

 

Preceded by Second Martin ministry
1866–1868
Succeeded by