Donaldson ministry

The Donaldson ministry was the first ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the Honourable Stuart Donaldson. Despite the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly being held in March 1856, it took over two months for Donaldson to form Government. It was sworn in on 6 June 1856, after the 1856 election and lasted just eighty days.

Donaldson ministry
First ministry of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier Stuart Donaldson and the Colony of New South Wales (1856–1859)
Date formed6 June 1856 (1856-06-06)
Date dissolved25 August 1856 (1856-08-25)
People and organisations
Head of stateQueen Victoria (represented by William Denison)
Head of governmentStuart Donaldson
No. of ministers6
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leaderCharles Cowper
History
Election(s)1856
SuccessorFirst Cowper 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. These by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.

This ministry covers the period from 6 June 1856 until on 25 August 1856, when Donaldson resigned his commission, having lost the confidence of the Assembly.[1]

Composition of ministry
Portfolio Minister Term start Term end Term length
Premier
Colonial Secretary
 Hon. Stuart Donaldson MLA 6 June 1856 25 August 1856 80 days
Colonial Treasurer Thomas Holt MLA
Attorney-General William Manning MLA
Solicitor-General John Darvall MLA
Auditor-General
Secretary for Lands and Works		 George Nichols MLA
Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council William Mayne MLC


1
2
3
4
5
1
Thomas Holt (Treasurer)
2
William M. Manning (Attorney-General)
3
Stuart Donaldson (Premier)
4
John Darvall (Solicitor-General)
5
George Nichols (Auditor-General)

See also

References
  1. "Former Members - Chronological List of Ministries 1856 to 2009 (requires download)". Project for the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW. Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original (Excel spreadsheet) on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-02.

 

Preceded by
First responsible government		 Donaldson ministry
1856		 Succeeded by
First Cowper ministry
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