TASMANIA ==================================================================== LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ==================================================================== ELECTION OF SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1859 ==================================================================== The number of enrolled voters in each district is given in a list published in the Hobart Mercury, 4 April 1859. Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------- At this election, the five members elected for three-year terms in 1856 were due to come up for re-election. They were: * Dr Edward S P Bedford (Hobart) * Thomas Y Lowes (Buckingham) * William Langdon (Derwent) * John Walker (Hobart) * John H Wedge (North Esk) Bedford and Walker did not seek re-election. This election was thrown into confusion when doubts arose as to the legality of the writs of election for the 1856 election. As a result, four members - Richard Cleburne (Huon), John C Gregson (Cambridge), Thomas Y Lowes (Buckingham) and John H Wedge (North Esk) - resigned their seats, causing by-elections. In addition, William Button (Tamar) and James Whyte (Pembroke), who were due to face re-election in 1862, and William P Weston (Longford), due to face re-election in 1865, were forced to re-contest their seats. There was also a by-election for the third Hobart seat, where Thomas Horne had resigned on being appointed a judge. There were thus altogether eleven elections at this time instead of the scheduled five. As a result of these changes, no Legislative Council election was held in 1862, as would previously have been required. The only member whose term was due to expire in 1862, William E Nairn (Meander), had his term extended until 1865. Members for the other districts for the period 1959 to 1865 (of which there were only four) are shown to maintain continuity. VOTING BY CONSTITUENCY ==================================================================== DERWENT ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 164 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: Hamilton -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 4 October, polling 24 October 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- William LANGDON * 54 52.9 William S Sharland 48 47.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 102 02.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharland was MLC for Cumberland 1851-56. See House of Assembly 1861, New Norfolk. The Hobart Mercury (13 October 1859) described him as a "rabid ministerialist." -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Langdon (1790-1879): Elected 1856, 1859 Term to expire September 1868 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Launceston Examiner, 27 October 1859 HOBART (2 members) ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 693 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: New Market Place, Hobart -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 13 October, polling 18 October 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- William CARTER 305 36.3 Alfred Kennerley 146 17.4 Alexander Kissock 6 00.7 James T Robertson 19 02.3 John L Stewart 34 04.0 James M WILSON 330 39.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 840 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. For Kennerley, see Hobart 1865 2. For Kissock, see Huon 1864. 3. For Robertson, see Huon 1874. 4. Carter and Wilson were described as Liberal candidates, and Kennerley as a ministerial candidate. Kissock and Robertson stated that they had been nominated against their wishes. (Hobart Mercury, 14 October 1859) -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Carter (1796-1878): Elected 1859 Born: 1796, England Career: To VDL 1833. Merchant. Mayor of Hobart 1853-54. Resigned 15 June 1865: See by-election Died 8 July 1878 -------------------------------------------------------------------- James Milne Wilson (1812-80): Elected 1859 Born: 29 February 1812, Scotland Career: To VDL 1829. Farmer, brewer. Term to expire September 1868 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Minister without office from 20 January 1863 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Town Advertiser, 19 October 1859 LONGFORD ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 146 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 13 October, polling 18 October 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- William P WESTON * 64 60.4 D'Arcy W L Murray 42 39.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 106 10.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- For Murray, see House of Assembly 1862, Launceston. -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Pritchard Weston (1804-88): Elected 1856. Resigned 1857. Elected 1857 by. Accepted office 1857. Elected 1857 by, 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Premier without office 1 November 1860 to 2 August 1861 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Launceston Examiner, 20 October 1959 PEMBROKE ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 149 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: Blue Bell inn, Sorell -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 28 September 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- James WHYTE * Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- James Whyte (1820-82): Elected 1856, 1859 Resigned on acceptance of office January 1863: See By-election -------------------------------------------------------------------- Premier from 20 January 1863 Colonial Secretary from 20 January 1863 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Mercury, 3 October 1859 TAMAR ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 359 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: Market Place, Launceston -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 12 October, polling 17 October 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- William S BUTTON * 153 61.7 John H Wedge * 95 38.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 248 11.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Wedge was MLC for Morven 1855-56, for North Esk 1856-59. -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Helder Wedge (1793-1872): Elected 1855 by, 1856. Defeated 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Stammers Button (1795-1876): Elected 1856 Resigned 5 June 1863: See by-election Died 17 September 1876 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Launceston Examiner, 18 October 1859 BY-ELECTIONS 1859-62 ==================================================================== BUCKINGHAM ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Thomas Y Lowes -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 314 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: New Town -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations September, polling 29 Septmber 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry Hopkins 33 22.9 Thomas Y LOWES * 111 77.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 144 27.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Lowes was decribed as as the liberal candidate and Hopkins as the ministerial candidate. (Hobart Mercury, 13 October 1859) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Yardley Lowes (1798-1870): Elected 1856, 1859. Resigned 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Town Advertiser, 1 October 1859 NORTH ESK ==================================================================== Following the resignation of John H Wedge -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 96 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: Launceston -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 26 September, polling 30 September 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- William GIBSON 48 63.2 Hon John H Wedge 28 36.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 76 13.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- The Hobart Mercury (13 October 1859) described Wedge as the Liberal candidate. -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Helder Wedge (1793-1872): Elected 1855 by, 1856. Resigned 1859 Later career: See Hobart by-election 1860 -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Gibson (1820-92): Elected 1859 Born 21 January 1820, Evandale Career: Farmer. Resigned 13 June 1864 Died 27 June 1892 -------------------------------------------------------------------- HOBART ==================================================================== Following acceptance of office by Hon Thomas Horne -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 693 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: New Market Place, Hobart -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations October, polling 18 October 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas HORNE 388 78.4 Alexander Kissock 8 01.6 James T Robertson 99 20.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 495 29.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. For Kissock, see Huon 1864. 2. For Robertson, see Huon 1874. 3. Kissock and Robertson stated that they had been nominated against their wishes and that they supported Horne. (Hobart Mercury, 14 October 1859) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Horne (1800-70): Elected 1856. Accepted office (as a judge) 1859. Elected 1859 by -------------------------------------------------------------------- Resigned May 1861 Later career: See House of Assembly, Hobart 1861 If there was a by-election to replace Horne, I can find no report of it. -------------------------------------------------------------------- CAMBRIDGE ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Hon John C Gregson -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: Rokeby -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations October, polling 19 October 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hon John C GREGSON 62 63.3 David Lewis 36 36.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 98 16.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Gregson was MHA for Norfolk Plains 1856-59, MLC for Cambridge 1859 2. For Lewis, see House of Assembly, Clarence by-election, 1864. -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Compton Gregson (1821-67): Elected 1856. Accepted office 1857. Elected 1857 by. Resigned 1859. Elected 1859 by, 1859 by Resigned on appointment as Solicitor-General, 18 January 1864: See by-election Died 16 December 1867 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Town Advertiser, 20 October 1859 HUON ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Richard Cleburne -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 14 October, polling 21 October 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard CLEBURNE 38 88.4 Dr William L Dawson 5 11.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 43 38.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dawson was nominated without his consent. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Cleburne (1799-1864): Elected 1851. Retired 1856. Elected 1857 by. Resigned 1859. Elected 1859 by -------------------------------------------------------------------- Launceston Examiner, 27 October 1859 MEMBERS NOT FACING ELECTION IN 1859 ==================================================================== JORDAN ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 197 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Isaac Bisdee (1813-68): Elected 1858 by Term to expire 25 September 1865 -------------------------------------------------------------------- MEANDER ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 306 -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Edward Nairn (1812-69): Elected 1856 Term to expire 25 September 1862 -------------------------------------------------------------------- President of the Legislative Council from 13 September 1859 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nairn's term was extended until 1865. SOUTH ESK ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 119 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Philip Hoskins Gell (1822-83): Elected 1858 by Resigned 30 October 1862: See by-election Died 30 January 1883 -------------------------------------------------------------------- TAMAR ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 359 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hon William Henty (1808-81): Elected 1856 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary 1 November 1860 to 1 November 1862 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Resigned 18 October 1862: See by-election Died 11 July 1881 -------------------------------------------------------------------- BY-ELECTIONS 1862-65 ==================================================================== SOUTH ESK ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Philip H Gell -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 12 December 1862 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick M INNES Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Innes was MHA Morven 1856-62. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Maitland Innes (1816-82): Elected 1856. Accepted office 1857. Elected 1857 by, 1861. Retired 1862. Elected 1862 by -------------------------------------------------------------------- Cornwall Chronicle, 13 December 1862 TAMAR ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Hon William Henty -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 18 December, polling 23 December 1862 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sir Richard DRY 108 58.4 Alexander Stewart 77 41.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 185 08.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dry was MLC for Launceston 1851-55. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Dry (1815-69): Elected 1851. Resigned 1855. Elected 1862 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Launceston Examiner, 25 December 1862 PEMBROKE ==================================================================== Following acceptance of office by Hon James Whyte -------------------------------------------------------------------- Place of nomination: Blue Bell inn, Sorell -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 5 February 1863 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hon James WHYTE * Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- James Whyte (1820-82): Elected 1856, 1859. Accepted office 1863. Elected 1863 by -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Mercury, 6 February 1863 TAMAR ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Willim S Button -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations , polling 5 June 1863 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas CORBETT 117 63.2 Alexander Stewart 68 37.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 185 13.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Corbett (1813-1901): Elected 1863 by Born: 1813, Scotland Career: Ironmonger, businessman. Resigned 2 May 1865: See by-election -------------------------------------------------------------------- Launceston Examiner, 6 June 1863 CAMBRIDGE ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Hon John C Gregson -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 22 January 1864 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Edward ABBOTT Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Abbott was MHA for Clarence 1856-64. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Edward Abbott (1801-69): Elected 1856, 1861, 1862. Resigned 1864. Elected 1864 by -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Mercury, 22 January 1864 HUON ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Richard Cleburne -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 19 November 1864 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexander KISSOCK Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexander Kissock (1809-66): Elected 1864 by Born: 1809 Scotland. Career: To VDL 1842. Merchant. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Advertiser, 22 November 1864 NORTH ESK ==================================================================== Following the resignation of William Gibson -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 13 June 1864 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Q KERMODE Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total -------------------------------------------------------------------- Kermode was MLC for Campbell Town 1851-55, for Longford 1856-57, MHA for Ringwood 1857-59, 1861-62. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Quayle Kermode (1812-70): Elected 1851. Resigned 1855. Elected 1856. Resigned 1857. Elected 1861. Resigned 1862. Elected 1864 by -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobert Mercury, 13 June 1864 TAMAR ==================================================================== Following the resignation of Thomas Corbett -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations 27 April, polling 2 May 1865 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexander Stewart 63 31.5 Charles J WEEDON 137 68.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 200 18.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles James Weedon (1810-74): Elected 1865 by Born 7 April 1810, EnglandCareer: To VDL 1831. Auctioneer, commercial agent. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Cornwall Chronicle, 13 May 1865 HOBART ==================================================================== Following the resignation of William Carter -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations June, polling 15 June 1865 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry Hopkins 159 41.3 Alfred KENNERLEY 226 58.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 385 08.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alfred Kennerley (1810-97): Elected 1865 by Born: 1810, England Career: To NSW 1831, to Tas 1857. Landowner. Mayor of Hobart 1862-63. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hobart Advertiser, 23 June 1865