Cowper ministry (1857–59)

Second Cowper ministry
4th cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier Charles Cowper and the Colony of New South Wales (1856–1859)
Date formed	7 September 1857 (1857-09-07)
Date dissolved	26 October 1859 (1859-10-26)
People and organisations
Head of government	Charles Cowper
Head of state	Queen Victoria (represented by William Denison)
Number of ministers	6
Member party	unaligned
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	unaligned
Opposition leader	Henry Parker William Forster
History
Predecessor	Parker ministry
Successor	Forster ministry

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

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. Henry Parker formed Government, lasting a little under twelve months, until it lost an electoral bill, when Cowper was again asked to form Government.

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. These by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.

This ministry covers the period from 7 September 1857 until on 26 October 1859, when Cowper resigned his commission, having lost an educational bill. Cowper resigned from the Assembly on the next day. During the period of this ministry, there were a large number of arrangements, with no fewer than 13 men holding the seven positions in its life of just over two years.

Composition of ministry

Portfolio	Minister	Term start	Term end	Term length
Premier Colonial Secretary	Hon. Charles Cowper MLA	7 September 1857	26 October 1859
Colonial Treasurer	Hon. Richard Jones, MLA		3 January 1858	days
	Hon. Robert Campbell MLA	4 January 1858	30 March 1859
	Hon. Elias Weekes MLA	18 April 1859	26 October 1859	days
Secretary for Lands and Works	Hon. Terence Murray MLA	7 September 1857	12 January 1858	days
	Hon. John Robertson MLA	13 January 1858	30 September 1859
Secretary for Lands		1 October 1859	26 October 1859
Secretary for Public Works	Hon. Edward Flood MLA			days
Attorney-General	Hon. James Martin MLA	7 September 1857	8 November 1858
	Hon. Lyttleton Bayley MLA	21 February 1859	26 October 1859	days
	Hon. Alfred Lutwyche MLA	15 November 1858	21 February 1859
Solicitor-General		7 September 1857	14 November 1858
	Hon. William Dalley MLA	15 November 1858	11 February 1859	days
	Hon. John Hargrave MLA	21 February 1859	26 October 1859	days
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. John Dickson, MLC

See also

• Charles Cowper - second Premier of New South Wales
• Self-government in New South Wales
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1856–1858
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1858–1859
• First Cowper ministry (1856)
• Third Cowper ministry (1861–1863)
• Fourth Cowper ministry (1865–1866)
• Fifth Cowper ministry (1870)

References

Preceded by Parker ministry

Second Cowper ministry 1857–1859

Succeeded by Forster ministry