8th General Assembly of Newfoundland

The members of the 8th General Assembly of Newfoundland were elected in the Newfoundland general election held in May 1861. The general assembly sat from 1861 to 1865. At this time Newfoundland was a British colony unto itself.

Hugh Hoyles, leader of the Conservative Party, had been appointed premier and invited to form a government in March after his predecessor was dismissed by the governor. Hoyles' government was defeated in a non-confidence vote prompting a general election in May, which Hoyles narrowly won eventually.

The election was marred by lethal shootings both before and after the election. It was fought along sectarian lines with Catholics largely voting Liberal and Protestants largely voting Conservative.

As well, Liberals were divided, at least in the district of Harbour Main. When supporters of Liberal candidates Fury and Hogsett tried to vote, they were beset upon by supporters of the other two candidates, Byrne and Nowlan, who were also Liberals. Shooting broke out - one killed, several wounded - but the Fury-Hogsett voters did cast their votes. The result was so close and tempers so high that the returning officer issued two results -- one with Fury and Hogsett the winners and one with Byrne and Nowlan the winners.

Hoyles and the Protestant Conservative Party of Newfoundland initially were awarded 14 seats to the 12 seats held by Kent's Liberals, but the result was contentious because four seats were not yet placed.

Protests and rioting ensued such as the May 13 "St. John's Election riot", in which 2,000 protesters gathered outside the Colonial Building in St. John’s and then rioted across the city. Armed soldiers killed three and wounded twenty before the local bishop called on the crowd to disperse.

The decision in Harbour Main went to adjudication, which resulted in the two seats being given to Nowlan and Byrne. That decision produced a tie -- Conservatives' 14 seats to Liberals' 14 seats, with only the seats in Harbour Grace left to decide the majority. For that by-election, troops were stationed in the district on election day and it went off peacefully. The by-election returned two Conservatives and gave Hoyles a majority.

Hoyles then continued as Newfoundland's premier until March 1865. In 1865 he resigned and accepted a post on the Newfoundland Supreme Court.

Frederick Carter succeeded Hoyles as party leader and premier. Carter formed a coalition government with Liberals Ambrose Shea and John Kent.

Frederick Carter was chosen as speaker, serving until April 1865, when William Whiteway became speaker.

Sir Alexander Bannerman served as colonial governor of Newfoundland until 1864. Sir Anthony Musgrave succeeded Bannerman as governor.

Frederick Carter and Ambrose Shea represented Newfoundland at the 1864 Quebec Conference on Canadian Confederation.

The following members were elected to the assembly in 1861:

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