1865 East Sydney colonial by-election
# 1865 East Sydney colonial by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of East Sydney on 17 February 1865 because Charles Cowper had been appointed Premier and Colonial Secretary, forming the fourth Cowper ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in East Sydney, The Glebe (Thomas Smart) and West Sydney (John Darvall and John Robertson). Each minister was comfortably re-elected. Only The Paterson (William Arnold) was uncontested.

Frederick Birmingham was a surveyor and engineer from Parramatta, who was an unsuccessful candidate for Parramatta at the election in November 1864, polling just 16 votes (1.3%)

## Dates

| Date | Event |
| - | - |
| 3 February 1865 | Fourth Cowper ministry appointed. |
| 8 February 1865 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
| 15 February 1865 | Nominations |
| 17 February 1865 | Polling day |
| 21 February 1865 | Return of writ |

## Result

1865 East Sydney by-election Friday 17 February :

| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| Charles Cowper (re-elected) | Charles Cowper (re-elected) | 933 | 87.0 |
| Frederick Birmingham | Frederick Birmingham | 140 | 13.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,073 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 1,073 | 12.0 |
