17th General Assembly of Newfoundland
The 17th General Assembly of Newfoundland was the elected colonial legislature formed after the 1893 Newfoundland general election and active from 1894 to 1897.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 17th General Assembly of Newfoundland was the legislative assembly created by the Newfoundland general election held in November 1893. It represented the colony of Newfoundland during a period of intense political instability and severe financial disruption. The assembly sat from 1894 through 1897, with George Emerson serving as speaker. The Liberal Party initially formed the government under William Whiteway. The opposition Tory Party challenged the validity of 15 Liberal election victories, including Whiteway's, and also petitioned against the election of James Murray, an independent member. The disputed results were set aside, temporarily changing the balance of power in the assembly. The Tories consequently obtained a majority and formed a government led by Augustus F. Goodridge in 1894. Subsequent by-elections altered the composition of the chamber again, allowing the Liberals to recover their majority and establish a government under Daniel J. Greene. When Whiteway later won a by-election, he returned to the premiership. The assembly's tenure coincided with a major banking and economic crisis. In December 1894, London banks suspended credit to the Commercial Bank of Newfoundland and demanded repayment of certain loans. The Commercial Bank could not meet those obligations and sought repayment from merchant customers who were themselves under financial pressure. The bank eventually closed on October 10, an event remembered as Black Monday. The closure triggered a run on the Union Bank of Newfoundland and the Savings Bank of Newfoundland. Although the Savings Bank was temporarily able to cash a substantial cheque at the Union Bank, the Union Bank subsequently failed as well. Neither institution reopened. The banking collapse caused the devaluation of Newfoundland's currency, business closures and widespread unemployment. In early 1895, Canadian banks opened branches in the colony to provide replacement banking services, and the Newfoundland dollar was aligned in value with the Canadian dollar. These events made the 17th General Assembly important not only as a parliamentary body but also as the legislature operating during one of the colony's most serious nineteenth-century financial emergencies. The assembly also experienced a change in the colonial administration. Sir Terence O'Brien served as governor until 1895, when Sir Herbert Harley Murray succeeded him. The assembly's political life was therefore shaped by contested elections, changing ministries, by-elections, executive transitions and economic crisis. It was a historical legislature rather than a commercial brand, product line or continuing institution; its significance lies in Newfoundland's colonial constitutional and financial history.
History
The 17th General Assembly of Newfoundland followed the colony's general election of November 1893 and sat from 1894 to 1897. It was a representative colonial legislature whose membership and governing majority changed during its term as a consequence of election petitions and by-elections. The Liberal Party began with the government under William Whiteway. The Tory opposition filed petitions contesting 15 Liberal victories, including Whiteway's election, as well as the election of independent member James Murray. When the contested results were set aside, the Tories temporarily controlled a majority and formed a ministry headed by Augustus F. Goodridge in 1894. Later by-elections restored the Liberals to a majority, after which Daniel J. Greene led the government. Whiteway subsequently won a by-election and returned as premier. George Emerson was selected as speaker. The assembly's political changes occurred alongside a serious banking crisis. London banks suspended credit to the Commercial Bank of Newfoundland in December 1894 and demanded repayment of loans. The commercial bank could not satisfy those demands and sought repayment from merchants, who lacked the resources to comply. The bank closed on October 10, an episode known as Black Monday. Customers then rushed to the Union Bank of Newfoundland and the Savings Bank of Newfoundland. The Savings Bank was able to cash a large cheque at the Union Bank, but the Union Bank later closed. Neither failed bank resumed business. The collapse caused the Newfoundland currency to lose value and contributed to widespread business closures and unemployment. Canadian banks entered the colony in early 1895 by opening branches, and the Newfoundland dollar was brought to parity with the Canadian dollar. The banking emergency was therefore a defining issue for the legislature during its period in office. The colonial executive also changed during the assembly's life. Sir Terence O'Brien was governor until 1895, when he was replaced by Sir Herbert Harley Murray. The 17th General Assembly ended its period of activity in 1897. Because it was a historical legislature, it had no commercial products, consumer offerings or modern corporate ownership structure.
- 1897
End of assembly period
[1]The 17th General Assembly's period of sitting concluded in 1897.
- 1895
Canadian banks enter Newfoundland
[1]Canadian banks opened branches in the colony following the failure of local banks, and the Newfoundland dollar was aligned with the Canadian dollar.
- 1895
Change of colonial governor
[1]Sir Herbert Harley Murray replaced Sir Terence O'Brien as governor of Newfoundland.
- 1894
Assembly begins sitting
[1]The elected legislature began its period of activity, initially under a Liberal government led by William Whiteway.
- 1894
Tory government takes office temporarily
[1]Election petitions against numerous Liberal members temporarily shifted the balance of power to the Tories, who formed a government under Augustus F. Goodridge.
- 1894
Commercial Bank crisis and Black Monday
[1]The Commercial Bank of Newfoundland closed after credit was suspended and loan repayment was demanded, triggering a broader banking panic.
- 1893
General election held
[1]Members of the 17th General Assembly were elected in Newfoundland's November 1893 general election.
Brand decisions
1895
Currency aligned with the Canadian dollarStrategyBackground
The decision followed the collapse of the Commercial Bank and Union Bank and the resulting disruption to Newfoundland's financial system.
Action taken
Newfoundland's dollar was set at the same value as the Canadian dollar, while Canadian banks opened branches in the colony.
Aftermath
The measure provided a replacement financial framework after the failure of two local banks, although the crisis had already caused business closures and unemployment.
Sources1 sources
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