The 1832 Newfoundland general election came after many years of agitation against the British Parliament. Newfoundland was the last British colony in North America to gain representative government.

Quick Facts 15 seats in the Newfoundland House of Assembly 8 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1832 Newfoundland general election

November 1832 (1832-11) 1836 →
members →
15 seats in the Newfoundland House of Assembly 8 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Conservative Liberal Seats won 10 5
Results by riding
Elected party Conservative

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The first general election for Newfoundland was held in November, 1832. The island was divided into nine electoral districts:

• Conception Bay (4 members)
• St. John's (3 members)
• Placentia and St. Mary's (2 members)
• Bonavista Bay (1 member)
• Burin (1 member)
• Ferryland (1 member)
• Fogo (1 member)
• Fortune Bay (1 member)
• Trinity Bay (1 member)

None of the west coast of Newfoundland was represented during the 1832 general election because it fell within the jurisdiction of the French and American treaty shores. 15 seats in total, were up for election and representation to govern the affairs of the island.

The districts were determined by settlements and landmarks along the coast, with no consideration given to areas inland. It was determined that all residents lived on or near the coast.

• The district of St. John's covered areas from Petty Harbour to Topsail. This area also took in Bell Island.
• The district of Conception Bay extended from Topsail to Bay de Verde Head.
• The district of Trinity was from Bay de Verde Head to Cape Bonavista. This area also included Random Island.
• The district of Bonavista Bay extended from Cape Bonavista to Cape Freels.
• The district of Fogo included the islands of Twillingate and Fogo and extended from Fogo Island to Cape St. John.
• The district of Ferryland extended from Petty Harbour to Cape Race.
• The district of Placentia and St. Mary's was from Cape Race to Rushoon.
• The district of Burin was from Rushoon to Garnish.
• The district of Fortune Bay was from Garnish to McCallum (formerly known as Bonne Bay).

Each candidate had to be male, twenty-one years or older, of sound understanding, either natural-born to the island or a lawfully naturalized British citizen, and a resident of two years standing who had occupied a dwelling as either tenant or owner. Also, no candidate could have a criminal record for any infamous or heinous crime.^[1] Voters were held to much the same restrictions as candidates except the residency requirement was reduced from two years to one.

The election was conducted over a period of two months from the day of proclamation to the last polling date of December 8, 1832. There were forty-seven polling booths located at strategic locations and not all communities had one. Except for the districts of St. John's, Conception Bay, and Bonavista, the candidates were elected by acclamation.

John Bingley Garland was appointed the first Speaker of the House. Both John Bingley Garland and William Thomas were appointed to the Executive Council and resigned their seats in the House of Assembly. William Row, who ran for a seat in St. John’s, was given the seat for Trinity Bay and Dr. William Carson was given a seat for the District of St. John's.

• General elections in Newfoundland (pre-Confederation)