6th General Assembly of Newfoundland

Colonial Building seat of the Newfoundland government and the House of Assembly from January 28, 1850, to July 28, 1959.

History
Founded| 1855
Disbanded| 1859
Preceded by| 5th General Assembly of Newfoundland
Succeeded by| 7th General Assembly of Newfoundland
Leadership

Premier

Philip Francis Little
(1855-1858)

Premier

John Kent (from 1858)

Elections

Last election

| 1855 Newfoundland general election

The members of the 6th General Assembly of Newfoundland were elected in the Newfoundland general election held in May 1855. The general assembly sat from 1855 to 1859.

This was the first election held after responsible government was granted to the colony. The Liberal Party led by Philip Francis Little won the election and Little became Newfoundland's first premier.[1] After Little resigned as leader in 1858, John Kent served as premier.[2]

Ambrose Shea was chosen as speaker.[3]

Sir Charles Henry Darling served as colonial governor of Newfoundland until February 1857, when he was named governor of Jamaica.[4] Later that year, Darling was succeeded by Sir Alexander Bannerman,[5]

## Members of the Assembly

[edit]

The following members were elected to the assembly in 1855:[6][7]

| Member  | Electoral district  | Affiliation  | First elected / previously elected

|
|
|
|

| John Bemister | Bay de Verde  | Conservative  | 1855
| Robert Carter | Bonavista Bay  | Conservative  | 1855
| John Henry Warren | Conservative  | 1852
| Matthew W. Walbank | Conservative  | 1855
| Robert Henry Prowse | Burgeo-La Poile | Conservative  | 1855
| Clement Benning | Burin  | Liberal  | 1852
| Patrick Morris | Liberal  | 1855
| Edmund Hanrahan | Carbonear  | Liberal  | 1855
| Thomas Glen | Ferryland  | Conservative  | 1855
| Edward Dalton Shea | Liberal  | 1855
| Hugh William Hoyles | Fortune Bay  | Conservative  | 1855
| James Luke Prendergast | Harbour Grace  | Liberal  | 1855
| John Hayward | Conservative  | 1855
| Thomas Byrne | Harbour Main | Liberal  | 1855
| William Talbot | Liberal  | 1855
| George James Hogsett | Placentia and St. Mary's | Liberal  | 1852
| Michael John Kelly | Liberal  | 1855
| John Delaney | Liberal  | 1848, 1855
| Robert Brown | Port de Grave  | Conservative  | 1855
| John Kent | St. John's East | Liberal  | 1832, 1848
| Robert John Parsons | Liberal  | 1843
| Peter Winser | Liberal  | 1855
| John Kavanagh (1857)  | Liberal  | 1857
| John Fox | St. John's West | Liberal  | 1855
| Ambrose Shea | Liberal  | 1848
| Philip Francis Little | Liberal  | 1850
| John Casey (1857)  | Liberal  | 1857
| J. J. Gearin (1858)  | Liberal  | 1858
| Stephen March | Trinity Bay  | Conservative  | 1852
| John Winter | Conservative  | 1855
| F.B.T. Carter | Conservative  | 1855
| William Henry Ellis | Twillingate and Fogo  | Conservative  | 1855
| Thomas Knight | Conservative  | 1855
| William Whiteway (1858)  | Conservative  | 1858

## By-elections

[edit]

By-elections were held to replace members for various reasons:

Electoral district  | Member elected  | Affiliation  | Election date  | Reason

|
|
|
|

St. John's East | John Kavanagh | Liberal  | 1857  | P Winser resigned in 1857[6]
St. John's West | John Casey | Liberal  | 1857  | J Fox named to Legislative Council in 1857[6]
Twillingate and Fogo  | William Whiteway | Conservative  | 1858  | J H Ellis died March 28, 1858[6]
St. John's West | J. J. Gearin | Liberal  | 1858  | P F Little resigned seat in 1858[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Responsible Government, 1855-1933". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. Memorial University.
2. ^ Waite, P. B. (1972). "Kent, John". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. X (1871–1880) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
3. ^ "The Speaker of the House of Assembly". House of Assembly. Archived from the original on 2009-10-13.
4. ^ Thompson, Frederic F (1976). "Darling, Sir Charles Henry". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
5. ^ "Bannerman, Sir Alexander". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. Memorial University.
6. ^ a b c d e "Elections". Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. p. 685.
7. ^ "Roll of Members, 6th General Assembly" (PDF). House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 2025-03-21.

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Politics of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Crown|

* Sovereign
* King Charles III

Lieutenant Governor|

* Joan Marie Aylward
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* John Hogan
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* Tony Wakeham
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* Derek Bennett
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Active political parties|

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|

Defunct political parties|

* Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance (2019–2023)
* Labrador Party (1969–1975, 2003–2007)
* Newfoundland and Labrador First Party (1999–2011)
* Newfoundland Reform Liberal Party (1975)
* United Newfoundland Party (1932, 1959)
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* Responsible Government League (1947–1949)
* Confederate Association (1948–1949)
* Party for Economic Union with the United States (1948)
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* Fisherman's Protective Union (1913–1934)
* Newfoundland People's Party (1907–1923)
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