1865 East Sydney colonial by-election

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.[1] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in East Sydney, 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.[2]

Frederick Birmingham was a surveyor and engineer from Parramatta,[3] who was an unsuccessful candidate for Parramatta at the election in November 1864, polling just 16 votes (1.3%)[4]

Dates edit

Date Event
3 February 1865 Fourth Cowper ministry appointed.[5]
8 February 1865 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[6]
15 February 1865 Nominations
17 February 1865 Polling day
21 February 1865 Return of writ

Result edit

1865 East Sydney by-election
Friday 17 February [7]
Candidate Votes %
Charles Cowper (re-elected) 933 87.0
Frederick Birmingham 140 13.0
Total formal votes 1,073 100.0
Informal votes 0 0.0
Turnout 1,073 12.0

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Sir Charles Cowper [1] (1807–1875)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. ^ Green, Antony. "1865 to 1869 by-elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Parramatta". The Empire. 20 February 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 7 September 2020 – via Trove.
  4. ^ Green, Antony. "1864-5 Parramatta". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Appointment of ministers". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 24. New South Wales, Australia. 3 February 1865. p. 323. Retrieved 7 September 2020 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Writs of election: East Sydney". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 26. 8 February 1865. p. 345. Retrieved 7 September 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ^ Green, Antony. "1865 East Sydney by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2020.