6th General Assembly of Newfoundland

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6th General Assembly of Newfoundland

The assembly sat in the Colonial Building, the seat of Newfoundland’s government, from 1855 to 1859. It followed the 5th General Assembly and preceded the 7th. This was the first assembly after Newfoundland was granted responsible government.

Elections were held in May 1855, and the Liberal Party, led by Philip Francis Little, won, making Little Newfoundland’s first premier. He served as premier until 1858, when he resigned and John Kent took over.

Ambrose Shea was the speaker. The colony’s governor was Sir Charles Henry Darling until February 1857, when he left to become governor of Jamaica. Later that year, Sir Alexander Bannerman became governor.

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