Cowper ministry (1856)

First Cowper ministry
2nd cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier Charles Cowper and the Colony of New South Wales (1856–1859)
Date formed	25 August 1856 (1856-08-25)
Date dissolved	2 October 1856 (1856-10-02)
People and organisations
Head of state	Queen Victoria (represented by William Denison)
Head of government	Charles Cowper
No. of ministers	6
Member party	unaligned
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	unaligned
Opposition leader	Stuart Donaldson Henry Parker
History
Predecessor	Donaldson ministry
Successor	Parker ministry

The first Cowper ministry was the second ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the Honourable Charles Cowper. It was the first of five occasions that Cowper was Leader of the Government. Cowper was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856, and fought unsuccessfully with Stuart Donaldson to form Government. When Donaldson's Government faltered a little over two months after it was formed, Cowper formed Government.

The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but not enshrined in formal use until 1920.

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. These by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.

This ministry covers the period from 26 August 1856 until on 2 October 1856, when Cowper resigned his commission, having lost the confidence of the Assembly.