Cowper ministry (1856)

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]

First Cowper ministry
2nd Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
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
MonarchQueen Victoria
GovernorWilliam Denison
Head of governmentCharles Cowper
No. of ministers6
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leader
History
PredecessorDonaldson ministry
SuccessorParker ministry

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
Portfolio Minister Term start Term end Term length
Premier
Colonial Secretary
 Charles Cowper 26 August 1856 2 October 1856 37 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 1856 23 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

References
  1. "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. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

 

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