Jennings ministry

Jennings ministry
Jennings ministry
; 23rd Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
	Premier Sir Patrick Jennings and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed	26 February 1886
Date dissolved	19 January 1887
People and organisations
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Governor	The Lord Carrington
Premier	Sir Patrick Jennings
No. of ministers	10
Member party	unaligned
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	unaligned
Opposition leader	John Robertson; Henry Parkes;
History
Predecessor	Fifth Robertson ministry
Successor	Fourth Parkes ministry

The Jennings ministry was the 23rd ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the eleventh Premier, Sir Patrick Jennings, and the first Roman Catholic to hold the office of Colonial Premier.^[1] Jennings was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the 1869–70 election, and then again in 1880.

The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but was not a formal position in the government until 1920. Instead the Premier was appointed to another portfolio, usually Colonial Secretary, but on this occasion Jenning chose the portfolio of Colonial Treasurer.

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887.^[2] Under the constitution, ministers in the Legislative Assembly were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed.^[3] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion a poll was required for Bathurst (Francis Suttor) and Redfern (Arthur Renwick) however both were re-elected. The other ministers were re-elected unopposed.^[4]

This ministry covers the period from 26 February 1886 until 19 January 1887. Jennings took over as Premier following the February 1886 resignation of Sir John Robertson.^[5] Jennings' ministry was beset by financial difficulties,^[1]^[5] lasted only 11 months, and was succeeded by Henry Parkes.^[6]

Composition of ministry

Portfolio	Minister	Term start	Term end	Term length
Premier Colonial Treasurer	Sir Patrick Jennings	26 February 1886	19 January 1887	327 days
Colonial Secretary	George Dibbs
Minister of Public Instruction	Arthur Renwick
Minister of Justice	James Garvan
Attorney General	Jack Want
Secretary for Lands	Henry Copeland
Secretary for Public Works	William Lyne
Postmaster-General	Francis Suttor
Secretary for Mines	James Fletcher		23 December 1886	300 days
Secretary for Mines	Charles Mackellar MLC	24 December 1886	19 January 1887	24 days
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council Vice-President of the Executive Council	Charles Mackellar MLC	26 February 1886	23 December 1886	300 days