7th General Assembly of Newfoundland


The members of the 7th General Assembly of Newfoundland were elected in the Newfoundland general election held in November 1859. The general assembly sat from 1860 to 1861.
The Liberal Party led by John Kent won the election and Kent served as Newfoundland's premier.
Ambrose Shea was chosen as speaker until 1861, when Frederick Carter briefly served as speaker.
Sir Alexander Bannerman served as List of [lieutenant governors of Newfoundland and Labrador#Colonial Governors of Newfoundland, 1855–1907|colonial governor of Newfoundland].
In February 1861, Premier Kent accused Governor Bannerman of conspiring with the Conservatives and the judiciary to defeat a bill that would have changed the rate of exchange for the dollar. Bannerman dismissed Kent's government and invited the Conservative leader Hugh Hoyles to form a government. That government subsequently was defeated by a vote of no confidence and a general election was held.

Members of the Assembly

The following members were elected to the assembly in 1859:
MemberElectoral districtAffiliationFirst elected / previously elected
John BemisterBay de VerdeConservative1855-
Stephen MarchBonavista BayConservative1852-
John Henry WarrenBonavista BayConservative1852-
Matthew W. WalbankBonavista BayConservative1855-
James SeatonBurgeo-La PoileConservative1859-
Hugh Hoyles Burgeo-La PoileConservative1855, 1860-
James Johnstone RogersonBurinLiberal1859-
Ambrose SheaBurinLiberal1848-
Edmund HanrahanCarbonearLiberal1855-
Thomas GlenFerrylandLiberal1855-
Edward Dalton SheaFerrylandLiberal1855-
Robert CarterFortune BayConservative1859-
James Luke PrendergastHarbour GraceLiberal1855-
John HaywardHarbour GraceLiberal1855-
Patrick NowlanHarbour MainLiberal1859-
Charles FureyHarbour MainLiberal1859-
George James HogsettPlacentia and St. Mary'sLiberal1852-
J. W. EnglishPlacentia and St. Mary'sLiberal1859-
John DelaneyPlacentia and St. Mary'sLiberal1848, 1855-
Richard McGrath Placentia and St. Mary'sLiberal1860-
John LeamonPort de GraveConservative1859-
John KentSt. John's EastLiberal1832, 1848-
John KavanaghSt. John's EastLiberal1857-
Robert John ParsonsSt. John's EastLiberal1843-
Pierce BarronSt. John's WestLiberal1859-
John CaseySt. John's WestLiberal1859-
Thomas S. DwyerSt. John's WestLiberal1859-
Stephen RendellTrinity BayConservative1859-
John WinterTrinity BayConservative1859-
F.B.T. CarterTrinity BayConservative1859-
William WhitewayTwillingate and FogoConservative1858-
Thomas KnightTwillingate and FogoConservative1859-

By-elections

By-elections were held to replace members for various reasons:
Electoral districtMember electedAffiliationElection dateReason
Harbour GraceJames Luke PrendergastLiberalNovember 1860Election of JL Prendergast declared invalid
Burgeo-La PoileHugh HoylesConservative1860J Seaton resigned seat
Placentia and St. Mary'sRichard McGrathLiberal1860J Delaney named Postmaster General