Newfoundland general election, 1832

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Newfoundland general election, 1832
Flag of Newfoundland 1862-1870.svg
November 1832 (1832-11) 1836  
members  

15 seats in the Newfoundland House of Assembly
8 seats needed for a majority

  First party Second party
 
Party Conservative Liberal
Seats won 10 5

Newfoundland general election, 1832.svg

Results by riding

Elected party

Conservative

The 1st Newfoundland general election came after many years of agitation against the British Parliament. Newfoundland was the last British colony in North America to gain representative government.

Contents

Results by party

LeaderSeats won
     Conservative 10
     Liberal 5
Total15

Member distribution

The first general election for Newfoundland was held in November, 1832. The island was divided into nine electoral districts:

None of the west coast of Newfoundland was represented during the 1832 general election because it fell within the jurisdiction of the French and American treaty shores. 15 seats in total, were up for election and representation to govern the affairs of the island.

French Shore

The French Shore, also called the Treaty Shore, resulted from the 1713 ratification of the Treaty of Utrecht. The provisions of the treaty allowed the French to fish in season along the north coast of Newfoundland between Cape Bonavista and Point Riche. This area had been frequented by fishermen from Brittany since the early 16th century, which they called "le petit nord".

The American Treaty Shore also known as the Anglo-American Convention of 1818 is an identification of the fishing area frequented by American fishing vessels around the coast of Newfoundland.

Districts

The districts were determined by settlements and landmarks along the coast, with no consideration given to areas inland. It was determined that all residents lived on or near the coast.

Bell Island (Newfoundland and Labrador) island in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Bell Island is an island located off the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in Conception Bay. Measuring 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) in length and 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) in width, it has an area of 34 square kilometres. The subsurface is composed of Ordovician sandstone and shale with red hematite. It was once the site of large iron ore mines.

Cape Bonavista

Cape Bonavista is a headland located on the east coast of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located at the northeastern tip of the Bonavista Peninsula, which separates Trinity Bay to the south from Bonavista Bay to the north. The nearby town of Bonavista takes its name from this historic landmark.

Random Island island in Canada

Random Island is located off Canada's Atlantic coast. Part of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is located on the east coast of Newfoundland and partially surrounded by the Bonavista Peninsula on the north and within the confines of Trinity Bay. The island is approximately 35 km (22 mi) long, its width varies from 15 km (9.3 mi) on the eastern end, to 6 km (3.7 mi) in the middle, to 17 km (11 mi) on the western end, with a total area of around 310 km2 (120 sq mi). According to the 2016 census, the population of the island is 1,232.

Candidate requirements

Each candidate had to be male, twenty-one years or older, of sound understanding, either natural-born to the island or a lawfully naturalized British citizen, and a resident of two years standing who had occupied a dwelling as either tenant or owner. Also, no candidate could have a criminal record for any infamous or heinous crime. [1] Voters were held to much the same restrictions as candidates except the residency requirement was reduced from two years to one.

Naturalization process by which a non-citizen in a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country

Naturalization is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen in a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the individual, or it may involve an application or a motion and approval by legal authorities. The rules of naturalization vary from country to country but typically include a promise to obeying and upholding that country's laws, taking and subscribing to the oath of allegiance, and may specify other requirements such as a minimum legal residency and adequate knowledge of the national dominant language or culture. To counter multiple citizenship, most countries require that applicants for naturalization renounce any other citizenship that they currently hold, but whether this renunciation actually causes loss of original citizenship, as seen by the host country and by the original country, will depend on the laws of the countries involved.

United Kingdom Country in Europe

The United Kingdom (UK), officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world. It is also the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

Election

The election was conducted over a period of two months from the day of proclamation to the last polling date of December 8, 1832. There were forty-seven polling booths located at strategic locations and not all communities had one. Except for the districts of St. John's, Conception Bay, and Bonavista, the candidates were elected by acclamation.

District of Conception Bay

The nomination for Conception Bay was held on October 31, 1832, with the following candidates nominated for the four available seats:

Charles Cozens, politician, magistrate, was elected to the House of Assembly representing the district of Conception Bay on the first general election held in Newfoundland in 1832.

Peter Brown was a merchant, politician and justice of the peace was elected to the House of Assembly representing the district of Conception Bay on the first general election held in Newfoundland in 1832.

Harbour Grace Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Harbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the 16th century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America.

Candidates October 31 November 1 November 2 November 3 Total
Robert Pack 380197 228131 936
Charles Cozens 376195223129923
Peter Brown 364202224133923
James Power 371198209126904
Robert J. Pinsent 31563620143

After the election results of November 3, 1832, Robert Pinsent withdrew and the remaining four were declared representatives for the district.

District of St. John's

Seven candidates offered themselves for election after the reading of the Proclamation and the Writ. Two more offered after the first polling day, which was met with some skepticism. Nominated were:

Candidates November 5 November 6 November 7 November 8 November 9 November 10 November 12(a) Total
John Kent 19129 13715219719069 893
William Thomas 176411514115819473762
Patrick Kough48812212413012356647
William Carson 156311511913714241632
William Row(b)534nob(c)nobnobnobnob39
Patrick Power(b)028nobnobnobnobnob28
Patrick Mullowney(b)027nobnobnobnobnob27
Walsh(b)(d)nob18nobnobnobnobnob18
Ryan(b)(d)nob12nobnobnobnobnob12

(a) No voting took place on Sunday, November 11.
(b) dropped out of the race after results of November 6.
(c) nob - not on ballot.
(d) not one of the original nominees.

After the results of voting on November 12, 1832, Dr. William Carson withdrew and the remaining three were declared as representatives of the District of St. John's.

At the opening of the House of Assembly on January 2, 1833, Dr. Carson petitioned the House for Patrick Kough's removal, claiming he was a government employee and ineligible. The petition was denied.

District of Bonavista

There were two candidates for the district of Bonavista, Hugh Alexander Emerson and William Brown. After three polling stations had voted, William Brown withdrew. The returning officer, Peter LeMessurier, refused to recognize his withdrawal from the race and continued to the next polling station at Greenspond, a Brown stronghold. After those results, William Brown was declared the winner, and no voting took place at the remaining polling station at Cape Freels.

At the opening of the House of Assembly on January 2, 1833, Hugh Alexander Emerson petitioned the House for William Brown's removal due to Peter LeMessurier's actions. The petition was denied.

Results by riding

Electoral DistrictCandidates Incumbent
 Old Conservative Liberal
1. Bonavista Bay William Brown
2. Burin William Hooper
3. Conception Bay Charles Cozens Peter Brown
James Power
Robert Pack
4. Ferryland Robert Carter
5. Fortune Bay Newman Hoyles
6. Placentia and St. Mary's John Martin Roger Sweetman
7. St. John's Patrick Kough
William Thomas
John Kent
8. Trinity Bay John Bingley Garland
9. Twillingate and Fogo Thomas Bennett

Governance

John Bingley Garland was appointed the first Speaker of the House. Both John Bingley Garland and William Thomas were appointed to the Executive Council and resigned their seats in the House of Assembly. William Row, who ran for a seat in St. John’s, was given the seat for Trinity Bay and Dr. William Carson was given a seat for the District of St. John's.

See also

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References