1876 Prince Edward Island Election

Overview

The 1876 Prince Edward Island Election was held on August 17th, 1876.

Result

Free Schooler won the most seats in the election

Held on

August 17th, 1876

Number of Electoral Districts

15

Legislature

House of Assembly (1773 - 1890)

Fixed Date

No

Election Notes

Note : Constituency level data for this election (with the exception of 5th Kings) include any special votes that were cast.

Citation : Source: Patriot - November 18 1875 - July 12 1877 (Microfilm @ Robertson Library, UPEI):
27 May 1876 p.2 cols.1&2 - The Election
3 June 1876 p.2 cols.1&2 - The Contest
10 June 1876 p.2 col.4 (x2)
15 June 1876 p.2 col.3
22 June 1876 p.2 col.4 - Election Rumors
5 August 1876 p.2 cols. 1-3
10 August 1876 p.2 cols.1-7
12 August 1876 p.2 cols.1-4 - Nomination Day
17 August 1876 p.2 cols.1-4
19 August 1876 p.2 cols.1-3 - The Election
24 August 1876 p.2 col.3 - A Correction
26 August 1876 p.2 cols.1-2 & 4 - Rumors; How It Was To Be Done
31 August 1876 p.2 col.3 - Declaration Day


Source: Examiner - March 6, 1876 to November 23, 1877 (Microfilm @ Robertson Library, UPEI)
21 August 1876, p.2 col.2 - The Contest

  • Results
  • Districts
  • Charts
  • Legislature

Result

Total ElectorsValid BallotsValid VotesInvalid VotesTurnout Rate
UnavailableUnavailable25,943UnavailableUnavailable
PartyCandidatesSeats Won% of Seats Won% of Vote
Free Schooler241963.33%57.62%
Denominationalist201136.67%33.82%
Unknown400%8.56%

Additional information for Free Schooler

Note : Disagreements regarding public vs. sectarian schools polarized liberal and conservative candidates into two coalition groups - Free Schoolers and Denominationalists. Divisions were largely based on religion. The Free Schoolers were a political coalition consisting of Protestant Liberals and some Conservative Liberals.

"The general election of 1876 was an interesting, and contentious, event. While the Island’s political scene had been the mainstay of Liberals and Conservatives, these two traditional parties gave way to coalitions come election. The issue of public vs. sectarian schools, and the provincial government’s stance on the matter, reigned supreme, and polarized politicians and the Island into two groups based largely on religion: The Free School Coalition (Protestant Liberals, and some Conservative Liberals), and the Denominationalist Coalition (remaining Conservatives, and some Liberal Catholics). The “Free Schoolers” advocated for adherence to the Free Education Act (passed in 1855), and supported public/secular schools. The “Denominationalists”, on the other hand, desired a system of sectarian schools across the Island (ie. separate schools for Catholics and Protestants."

Additional information for Denominationalist

Note : Disagreements regarding public vs. sectarian schools polarized liberal and conservative candidates into two coalition groups - Free Schoolers and Denominationalists. Divisions were largely based on religion. The Denominationalist Coalition was a political coalition consisting largely of Conservatives and some Liberal Catholics:

"The general election of 1876 was an interesting, and contentious, event. While the Island’s political scene had been the mainstay of Liberals and Conservatives, these two traditional parties gave way to coalitions come election. The issue of public vs. sectarian schools, and the provincial government’s stance on the matter, reigned supreme, and polarized politicians and the Island into two groups based largely on religion: The Free School Coalition (Protestant Liberals, and some Conservative Liberals), and the Denominationalist Coalition (remaining Conservatives, and some Liberal Catholics). The “Free Schoolers” advocated for adherence to the Free Education Act (passed in 1855), and supported public/secular schools. The “Denominationalists”, on the other hand, desired a system of sectarian schools across the Island (ie. separate schools for Catholics and Protestants."

Legislature Composition

Vote Share by Political Parties

Seats Won by Political Parties

Seats Share by Political Parties

Kings County 1st District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistLaughlin McDonaldLaughlin McDonald was elected0
DenominationalistJames McLeanJames McLean was elected0

Attributes

Acclamation Yes
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Kings County 2nd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1885
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistJohn Caven421
DenominationalistWilliam Hooper (PE)421
DenominationalistHilary McIsaacHilary McIsaac was elected441
DenominationalistW. SullivanW. Sullivan was elected602

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Kings County 3rd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1545
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistJames McDonaldJames McDonald was elected580
UnknownAlfred Owen443
DenominationalistJohn ScrimgeourJohn Scrimgeour was elected522

Election Result Notes

Note : A last minute entry in the race for 3rd Kings, little was known about Alfred W. Owen. He had little time to campaign, and his stance regarding the School Question was not clear; however, he managed to poll a surprising amount of votes, despite finishing third to James McDonald and John Scrimgeour (Denominationalists). The support that Owen received suggests that he was likely running on the Free School ticket.

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Notes for Alfred Owen

Candidacy : Alfred W. Owen may have been a Free Schooler. However, this has not been verified.

Kings County 4th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1770
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Free SchoolerMalcolm McFadyen538
Free SchoolerSamuel ProwseSamuel Prowse was elected637
Free SchoolerJames RobertsonJames Robertson was elected595

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Kings County 5th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
395
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Free SchoolerDaniel GordonDaniel Gordon was elected110
Free SchoolerArchibald McDonald (PE)144
Free SchoolerLewis WestawayLewis Westaway was elected141

Election Result Notes

Note : Kings County 5th District also referred to as "Georgetown and Royalty"

Note : In the district of 5th Kings (Georgetown & Royalty), Daniel Gordon and Lewis J. Westaway, of the Free School Coalition, faced off against Archibald J. MacDonald (Denominationalist). The contest was close, and by the publication of the unofficial results, MacDonald placed first overall with 144 votes, with Gordon a close second at 141, and Westaway placing third with 110; however, the polling of special votes was a key factor in Georgetown politics, and by declaration day, MacDonald was in third place behind Gordon and Westaway. Unfortunately, the updated results do not appear to have been published.

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 1st District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistNicholas ConroyNicholas Conroy was elected0
DenominationalistEdward HackettEdward Hackett was elected0

Election Result Notes

Note : James T. White, a Denominationalist, withdrew from the race

Attributes

Acclamation Yes
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 2nd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Free SchoolerJames RichardsJames Richards was elected0
Free SchoolerJohn YeoJohn Yeo was elected0

Attributes

Acclamation Yes
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 3rd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1526
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistJoseph ArsenaultJoseph Arsenault was elected556
DenominationalistJohn Gaffney435
DenominationalistJohn McDonald (PE)John McDonald (PE) was elected535

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Notes for John McDonald (PE)

Candidacy : There may be multiple candidates named John McDonald running in PEI. Difficult to verify. The database assumes that John A McDonald ran in both Prince and Queens Country 3rd district.

Prince County 4th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2439
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Free SchoolerJohn CalhounJohn Calhoun was elected692
UnknownAugustus Holland579
UnknownCornelius Howatt536
Free SchoolerW. LeaW. Lea was elected632

Election Result Notes

Note : Although all four candidates in 4th Prince - W.C. Lea, John Calhoun, A.E.C. Holland, and Cornelius Howatt - claimed to be Free Schoolers, it appears that Holland and Howatt, the incumbents, might have been leaning toward the Denominationalist Coalition. Reporting of the day stated that they had become unpopular with their constituents, who favoured secular schools.

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 5th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1787
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistDaniel Green285
DenominationalistRichard Hunt308
Free SchoolerJohn LefurgeyJohn Lefurgey was elected545
Free SchoolerAngus McMillanAngus McMillan was elected549

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 1st District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
3053
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Free SchoolerWilliam Campbell (PE)William Campbell (PE) was elected808
Free SchoolerJames Holmes777
UnknownRoderick MacNeill653
Free SchoolerWilliam StewartWilliam Stewart was elected815

Election Result Notes

Note : Palmer, unknown party, withdrew before election day.

Note : Roderick MacNeill may have been a Denominationalist, however, this has not been verified.

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 2nd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2981
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Free SchoolerDonald FarquharsonDonald Farquharson was elected750
Free SchoolerJohn Longworth702
Free SchoolerDonald McKay (PE)Donald McKay (PE) was elected840
Free SchoolerWilliam McNeill689

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 3rd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2470
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Free SchoolerHenry Beer (PE)Henry Beer (PE) was elected865
DenominationalistDonald Ferguson681
DenominationalistFrancis KellyFrancis Kelly was elected924

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 4th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2366
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistAndrew O'Keefe285
Free SchoolerJohn RobertsonJohn Robertson was elected1030
Free SchoolerWilliam WelshWilliam Welsh was elected1051

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 5th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
3726
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
DenominationalistFrederick Brecken865
Free SchoolerLouis DaviesLouis Davies was elected989
Free SchoolerGeorge DeBloisGeorge DeBlois was elected992
DenominationalistJames Pope880

Election Result Notes

Note : Queens 5th may also have been referred to as "Charlottetown & Royalty" at this time

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2