15th General Assembly of Newfoundland


The members of the 15th General Assembly of Newfoundland were elected in the Newfoundland general election held in October 1885. The general assembly sat from 1886 to 1889.
The Reform Party led by Robert Thorburn formed the government.
A.J.W. McNeilly was chosen as speaker.
Sir William Des Vœux served as colonial governor of Newfoundland until 1887. Sir Henry Arthur Blake succeeded Des Vœux as governor.
In 1887, the Ballot Act was passed which allowed voting by secret ballot as opposed to the previous system of public oral voting. In 1888, a new Elections Act was passed which defined the required qualifications for candidates for the House of Assembly. In 1889, a new Representation Act was passed which redefined the boundaries of electoral districts.

Members of the Assembly

The following members were elected to the assembly in 1885:
MemberElectoral districtAffiliation
Stephen R. MarchBay de VerdeReform Party
Alexander J.W. McNeillyBay de VerdeReform Party
James L. NoonanBonavistaReform Party
Abraham KeanBonavistaReform Party
Frederick WhiteBonavistaReform Party
Alexander M. MackayBurgeo-La PoileReform Party
John E. PetersBurinReform Party
Henry LeMessurierBurinReform Party
Alfred PenneyCarbonearReform Party
Daniel J. GreeneFerrylandLiberal
George SheaFerrylandLiberal
James RollsFogoReform Party
Robert BondFortune BayIndependent
James S. WinterHarbour GraceReform Party
Charles DaweHarbour GraceReform Party
Joseph GoddenHarbour GraceReform Party
John VeitchHarbour MainLiberal
Richard MacDonnellHarbour MainLiberal
James McGrathPlacentia and St. Mary'sLiberal
William J. S. DonnellyPlacentia and St. Mary'sLiberal
George H. EmersonPlacentia and St. Mary'sLiberal
George A. HutchingsPort de GraveReform Party
Albert BradshawSt. BarbeReform Party
Michael H. CartySt. George'sLiberal
Robert J. KentSt. John's EastLiberal
Ambrose SheaSt. John's EastLiberal
Michael J. O'MaraSt. John's EastLiberal
Edward MorrisSt. John's WestLiberal
Patrick J. ScottSt. John's WestLiberal
James J. CallananSt. John's WestLiberal
Robert ThorburnTrinityReform Party
Walter B. GrieveTrinityReform Party
Ellis WatsonTrinityReform Party
Augustus F. GoodridgeTwillingateReform Party
Smith McKayTwillingateReform Party
Michael T. KnightTwillingateReform Party

Notes:

By-elections

By-elections were held to replace members for various reasons:
Electoral districtMember electedAffiliationElection dateReason
TwillingateMichael T. KnightReform PartyJune 9, 1886MT Knight named to cabinet, so was required to run again
BonavistaAlfred B. MorineIndependentJune 12, 1886JL Noonan named to cabinet, so was required to run again
CarbonearAlfred PenneyReform PartyNovember 1, 1886A Penney named to cabinet, so was required to run again
Placentia and St. Mary'sWilliam J. S. DonnellyReform PartyNovember 1, 1886WJS DOnnelly named to cabinet, so was required to run again
St. John's EastThomas J. MurphyLiberalNovember 6, 1886RJ Kent resigned seat
St. John's EastRobert John Parsons, Jr.LiberalNovember 12, 1887A Shea named governor of the Bahamas
BonavistaDonald MorisonReform PartyNovember 10, 1888A Kean resigned seat

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