Martin ministry (1866–68)

The second Martin ministry was the tenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and second of three occasions of being led by James Martin QC.

Second Martin ministry
10th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier James Martin and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed22 January 1866 (1866-01-22)
Date dissolved26 October 1868 (1868-10-26)
People and organisations
Head of stateQueen Victoria (represented by Sir John Young, and subsequently The Earl Belmore)
Head of governmentJames Martin
No. of ministers9
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leader
History
PredecessorFourth Cowper ministry
SuccessorSecond Robertson ministry

Martin was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856. He came to power as Premier on the first occasion after he defeated Charles Cowper's government fell in October 1863.[1] Martin was asked to form government on the second occasion, this time in coalition with his former rival, Henry Parkes, after Cowper again lost the confidence of the Assembly in December 1865.[1]

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] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and each of James Martin (The Lachlan), Henry Parkes (Kiama), James Byrnes (Parramatta) and Geoffrey Eagar (West Sydney) were re-elected unopposed. A poll was required in Patrick's Plains (Bowie Wilson) and Yass Plains (Robert Isaacs) however both ministers were comfortably re-elected with more than 70% of the vote.[3]

This ministry covers the period from 22 January 1866 until 26 October 1868, when Martin resigned.[4]

Composition of ministry
Portfolio Minister Term start Term end Term length
Premier
Attorney-General		 James Martin MLA 22 January 1866 26 October 1868 2 years, 278 days
Colonial Secretary Henry Parkes MLA 17 September 1868 2 years, 239 days
Joseph Docker MLC 28 September 1868 26 October 1868 28 days
Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council 22 January 1866 2 years, 278 days
Colonial Treasurer Geoffrey Eagar MLA
Secretary for Lands Bowie Wilson MLA
Secretary for Public Works James Byrnes MLA
Solicitor General Robert Isaacs MLA
Postmaster-General Joseph Docker MLC 22 January 1866 27 September 1868 2 years, 249 days
Atkinson Tighe MLA 29 September 1868 26 October 1868 27 days

See also

References
  1. Serle, Percival (1949). "Martin, James". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  2. Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp. 442. ISBN 9781862875166. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. Green, Antony. "1865 to 1869 by-elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  4. "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 December 2020.

 

Preceded by
Fourth Cowper ministry)		 Second Martin ministry
1866–1868		 Succeeded by
Second Robertson ministry)
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