Finniss Ministry

Finniss ministry
1st cabinet of the Colony of South Australia
Premier Boyle Finniss (1856)
Date formed	24 October 1856
Date dissolved	21 August 1857
People and organisations
Head of government	Boyle Finniss
Head of state	Queen Victoria (Monarch) Sir Richard MacDonnell (Governor)
Number of ministers	6
Member party	unaligned
Status in legislature	Minority Government
Opposition party	unaligned
History
Election(s)	1857
Successor	Baker Ministry

The Finniss Ministry was the 1st Ministry of the Government of South Australia, led by B. T. Finniss. It commenced on 24 October 1856 with the introduction of responsible government in South Australia, and the nomination by Governor Richard Graves MacDonnell of Finniss, the appointed Chief Secretary, as the first Premier of South Australia. The ministry operated for several months prior to the 1857 colonial election, which would elect the first House of Assembly. The first House of Assembly was elected in March 1857 and met in April.^[1] The Finniss Ministry was succeeded by the Baker Ministry on 21 August 1857, following their defeat on a confidence motion in the new House.^[2][3][4]

Composition of ministry

Portfolio	Minister	Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier Chief Secretary	Hon. Boyle Finniss MHA	24 October 1856	21 August 1857	301 days
Colonial Treasurer	Hon. Robert Torrens MHA
Attorney-General	Hon. Richard Hanson MHA
Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration	Hon. Charles Bonney MLC
Commissioner of Public Works	Hon. Arthur Freeling MLC		20 March 1857	147 days
	Hon. Samuel Davenport MLC	20 March 1857	21 August 1857	154 days

References

1. "THE NEW PARLIAMENT.". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 4 March 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
2. "Statistical Record of the Legislature, 1836-2009" (PDF). Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
3. "THE NEW MINISTRY.". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 28 October 1856. p. 2. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
4. "DEFEAT OF THE NEW MINISTRY.". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 27 August 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 20 September 2015.