Cowper ministry (1865–66)

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

Fourth Cowper ministry
9th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier Charles Cowper and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed	3 February 1865
Date dissolved	21 January 1866
People and organisations
Head of state	Queen Victoria (represented by Sir John Young)
Head of government	Charles Cowper
No. of ministers	7
Member party	unaligned
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	unaligned
Opposition leader	James Martin
History
Election(s)	1864–65
Predecessor	First Martin ministry
Successor	Second Martin ministry

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. On the third occasion, Cowper formed Government following the decision by Premier John Robertson to step aside and focus on land reform,[1] however Cowper then lost the confidence to James Martin.[2] Cowper retained government by defeating Martin at the 1864–65 general election.[3]

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.[4] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in East Sydney (Charles Cowper), The Glebe (Thomas Smart) and West Sydney (John Darvall and John Robertson). Each minister was comfortably re-elected. Only The Paterson (William Arnold) was uncontested.[5]

This ministry covers the period from 3 February 1865 until 21 January 1866, when Martin was asked to form government after Cowper again lost the confidence of the Assembly in December 1865.[6]

Composition of ministry

Portfolio	Minister	Term start	Term end	Term length
Premier Colonial Secretary	Charles Cowper MLA	3 February 1865	21 January 1866	352 days
Colonial Treasurer	Thomas Smart MLA		19 October 1865	258 days
	Saul Samuel MLA	20 October 1865	3 January 1866	75 days
	Marshall Burdekin MLA	4 January 1866	21 January 1866	17 days
Attorney General	John Darvall MLA	3 February 1865	20 June 1865	137 days
	John Plunkett MLA	25 August 1865	21 January 1866	149 days
Solicitor General Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council	John Hargrave MLC	3 February 1865		352 days
Secretary for Lands	John Robertson MLA		19 October 1865	258 days
	William Arnold MLA	20 October 1865	30 October 1865	10 days
	John Robertson MLA	1 January 1866	21 January 1866	20 days
Secretary for Public Works	William Arnold MLA	3 February 1865	19 October 1865	258 days
	Thomas Smart MLA	20 October 1865	21 January 1866	93 days
Postmaster-General [lower-alpha 1]	James Cunneen	1 October 1865		112 days

 

1. A member of the government without a seat in the Cabinet.

See also

• Self-government in New South Wales
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1864–1869
• First Cowper ministry (1856)
• Second Cowper ministry (1857–1859)
• Third Cowper ministry (1861–1863)
• Fifth Cowper ministry (1870)

References

1. Nairn, Bede. "Robertson, Sir John (1816–1891)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
2. Serle, Percival (1949). "Martin, James". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
3. Ward, John M. "Cowper, Sir Charles (1807–1875)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
4. Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp. 442. ISBN 9781862875166. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
5. Green, Antony. "1865 to 1869 by-elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
6. "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 15 December 2020.