Nominations: Monday, 2 November 1863, Polling: Wednesday, 4 November 1863
Candidate
Votes
Votes %
Cowper, Charles Jnr (Elected)
292
51.41
Martin, James (Defeated)
276
48.59
Formal Votes
568
Informal Votes
0
0.00
Total Votes / Turnout
568
67.70
Persons Voting / Turnout
624
74.37
Cause Category: Ministerial by-election
Notes: By-election on James Martin becoming Premier. Charles Copwer Jnr resigned from his seat of Tumut to contest this by-election against Martin, resulting in Martin describing him at the nominations as a 'catspaw' of more powerful figures, clearly blaming the political machinations of Cowper Senior. The SMH criticised the Cowpers in an editorial, 4 November, p.4 col.3-4. Martin was defeated but promptly won Cowper's former seat of Tumut without actually visiting it.
Source: Report of nominations, SMH 3 November 1863, p.5 col.2-6, also in Empire 3 November, p.5 col.1-6. Same results in both papers, SMH 6 November, p.5 col.2, Empire 6 November, p.5 col.1. The NSW Statistical Register (1863) reports a higher vote total.