The Martin ministry (1863–1865) or First Martin ministry was the eighth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and first occasion of being led by the Premier, the Honourable James Martin, QC.
Martin was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856. He came to power as Premier after he successfully defeated Charles Cowper at the 1863 general election.[1]
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 16 October 1863 until 2 February 1865, when Cowper retained government by defeating Martin at the 1865 general election.[2]
| Portfolio | Minister | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Attorney-General |
Hon. James Martin QC MLA | 16 October 1863 | 2 February 1865 | 1 year, 109 days |
| Colonial Secretary | Hon. William Forster MLA | |||
| Colonial Treasurer | Hon. Geoffrey Eagar MLA | |||
| Solicitor-General | Hon. Peter Faucett MLA | |||
| Secretary for Lands | Hon. John Wilson MLA | |||
| Secretary for Public Works | Hon. Arthur Holroyd MLA | |||
| Representative of the Government in Legislative Council Vice-President of the Executive Council |
Hon. John Plunkett MLC | 23 November 1863 | 1 year, 71 days |
| Preceded by Cowper ministry (1861–1863) |
Martin ministry (1863–1865) 1863–1865 |
Succeeded by Cowper ministry (1865–1866) |
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