List of by-elections in the Province of Canada


The list of by-elections in the Province of Canada includes every by-election held in the Province of Canada from its creation in 1841 until Confederation in 1867. By-elections occurred whenever there was a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council was made an elective body in 1856 and by-elections occurred there as well. Due to the fluid nature of party allegiances during this time no attempt has been made to show them in this list.

Causes

A by-election occurs whenever there was a vacancy in the legislature. Vacancies occurred for the following reasons:

7th Parliament of the Province of Canada 1861-1863

6th Parliament of the Province of Canada 1858-1861

* Incumbents sat for Quebec City which was a three-member seat until 1860 when it was split into Centre, East and West districts. As a result, the by-elections were held for the new single-member seats
** Members of the Brown-Dorion Ministry of August 2–4, 1858

5th Parliament of the Province of Canada 1854-1857

4th Parliament of the Province of Canada 1851-1854

3rd Parliament of the Province of Canada 1848-1851

2nd Parliament of the Province of Canada 1844-1847

1st Parliament of the Province of Canada 1841-1844

Legislative Council By-Elections 1856-1867

The Legislative Council became an elective body in 1856. By-elections were held to fill vacancies. In 1857 Legislative Councillors appointed to office were now required to seek re-election at Ministerial by-elections.
By-electionDateIncumbentWinnerCause
BrockJanuary 25, 1866Adam Johnston Fergusson BlairAdam Johnston Fergusson BlairSought re-election upon appointment as President of the Executive Council
StadaconaSeptember 19, 1864François BabyJean-Élie GingrasDeath
La DurantayeJune 25, 1864François-Xavier LemieuxJoseph-Noël BosséDeath
CataraquiApril 30, 1864Alexander CampbellAlexander CampbellSought re-election upon appointment as Commissioner of Crown Lands
RougemontJanuary 8, 1864Louis-Antoine DessaullesWilliam Henry ChaffersAppointed Clerk of the Crown and Peace
St. ClairSeptember 19, 1863John WilsonAlexander VidalAppointed a judge
NewcastleSeptember 17, 1863Andrew JeffreyAsa BurnhamDeath
TrentJuly 21, 1863Sidney SmithBilla FlintResignation to contest the 1863 general election
VictoriaJune 19, 1863Luther Hamilton HoltonThomas RyanVacated seat on appointment as Minister of Finance and contested the 1863 general election
GrandvilleJune 5, 1863Luc Letellier de St-JustLuc Letellier de St-JustSought re-election upon appointment as Minister of Agriculture
RigaudJune 3, 1863Robert Unwin HarwoodEustache Prud'hommeDeath
St. ClairMay 16, 1863Malcolm CameronJohn WilsonAppointed Queen's Printer
WellingtonMay 8, 1863Hollis SmithJohn Sewell SanbornDeath
De LanaudièreApril 6, 1863Alexandre Bareil, dit LajoieLouis Auguste OlivierDeath
BrockMarch 28, 1863Adam Johnston Fergusson BlairAdam Johnston Fergusson BlairSought re-election upon appointment as Receiver General
De LorimierFebruary 26, 1863Jacques-Olivier BureauJacques-Olivier BureauSought re-election upon appointment as Provincial Secretary and Registrar
WesternSeptember 18, 1862Allan MacNabWalter McCreaDeath
NiagaraSeptember 4, 1862William Hamilton MerrittJames CurrieDeath
GulfJune 23, 1862Ulric-Joseph TessierUlric-Joseph TessierSought re-election upon appointment as Commissioner of Public Works
SaugeenMay 9, 1862James PattonJohn McMurrichSought re-election upon appointment as Solicitor General for Upper Canada
RideauApril 21, 1862Philip Michael Matthew Scott VanKoughnetJames SkeadAppointed a judge
TrentSeptember 28, 1861Edmund MurneySidney SmithDeath
StadaconaJune 17, 1861Pierre-Gabriel HuotFrançois BabyVoid Election
MontarvilleJune 17, 1861Alexandre-Édouard KierzkowskiLouis LacosteVoid Election
WesternNovember 24, 1860John PrinceAllan MacNabAppointed a judge
SorelJune 18, 1860Jean-Baptiste GuèvremontJean-Baptiste GuèvremontVoid Election