13th General Assembly of Newfoundland

The 13th General Assembly of Newfoundland was a historical legislative assembly of the Colony of Newfoundland, not a commercial brand or operating company. Its members were elected in the Newfoundland general election held in November 1878. The assembly then met during the period from 1879 through 1882, carrying out the legislative functions of the colony under Newfoundland’s nineteenth-century constitutional system. The Conservative Party formed the government after the election, with William Whiteway leading the administration. Whiteway was a major Newfoundland political figure and served as the government leader during this assembly. A. J. W. McNeilly was selected as speaker, presiding over the proceedings of the elected chamber. The assembly operated under the authority of the colonial government and within the institutional framework established for Newfoundland before responsible government was later replaced by commission government in the twentieth century. The period also included a change in the office of colonial governor. Sir John Hawley Glover served as governor until 1881. Henry Berkeley Fitzhardinge Maxse succeeded him and served as governor for the remainder of the assembly’s period. The change illustrates the assembly’s place within a wider colonial administration in which elected representatives legislated domestically while the governor represented the Crown and exercised constitutional responsibilities. The assembly’s membership came from constituencies across Newfoundland. By-elections were held during its life to replace members who left office for various reasons. The surviving reference material identifies the election, government, speakership, governorship, and by-election framework but does not provide a complete account of the assembly’s legislation, constituency results, membership changes, or final dissolution proceedings. Accordingly, this entry treats the body as a historical Newfoundland legislative institution rather than assigning it commercial characteristics such as products, markets, ownership, or financial performance.

The 13th General Assembly of Newfoundland emerged from the colony’s general election of November 1878. The election determined the membership of the next elected legislative assembly, which began sitting in 1879. The institution formed part of Newfoundland’s colonial constitutional arrangements, combining an elected legislative chamber with executive and gubernatorial authority operating under the Crown. Following the election, the Conservative Party formed the government under William Whiteway. The assembly’s organization included the election or appointment of A. J. W. McNeilly as speaker, giving him responsibility for presiding over debates and maintaining parliamentary procedure. The available reference material does not set out the complete legislative program of the Whiteway administration or identify all measures passed during the assembly’s term, so no broader policy record is asserted here. The assembly sat from 1879 until 1882. During this period, the office of colonial governor changed hands. Sir John Hawley Glover remained governor until 1881, after which Henry Berkeley Fitzhardinge Maxse succeeded him. The transition occurred while the 13th General Assembly was still in existence and formed part of the constitutional context in which Newfoundland’s elected representatives conducted legislative business. The assembly’s membership was subject to by-elections, which were held to replace members for various reasons. The reference material confirms the existence of these replacement elections but does not provide the individual vacancies, dates, candidates, or results. Likewise, a complete list of members is not reproduced in the available source extract. The assembly therefore remains best documented at the institutional level: elected in 1878, operational from 1879 to 1882, governed by the Conservatives under William Whiteway, chaired by A. J. W. McNeilly, and operating through a gubernatorial transition from Glover to Maxse. Because this subject is a historical legislature rather than a consumer or corporate brand, commercial fields such as products, campaigns, market positioning, ownership, and financial results are not applicable. The assembly is considered defunct because it was a time-limited parliamentary body that no longer exists as the 13th General Assembly.

• 1882

  End of assembly period

  [1]13th General Assembly of Newfoundlanden.wikipedia.org

  The 13th General Assembly’s period of sittings concluded in 1882.

• 1881

  Change of colonial governor

  [1]13th General Assembly of Newfoundlanden.wikipedia.org

  Sir John Hawley Glover’s tenure as colonial governor ended, and Henry Berkeley Fitzhardinge Maxse succeeded him.

• 1879

  Assembly begins sitting

  [1]13th General Assembly of Newfoundlanden.wikipedia.org

  The newly elected assembly began its legislative sittings, with the Conservative Party forming the government under William Whiteway.

• 1878

  General election

  [1]13th General Assembly of Newfoundlanden.wikipedia.org

  Members of the 13th General Assembly were elected in Newfoundland’s general election held in November.

Historical colonial legislature of Newfoundland; not a commercial brand.

1. 113th General Assembly of Newfoundlanden.wikipedia.org