1879 Prince Edward Island Election

Overview

The 1879 Prince Edward Island Election was held on April 9th, 1879.

Result

Liberal-Conservative won the most seats in the election

Held on

April 9th, 1879

Number of Electoral Districts

15

Legislature

House of Assembly (1773 - 1890)

Fixed Date

No

Election Notes

Citation : Source: Patriot - July 14 1877 to June 28 1879 (Microfilm @ Robertson Library, UPEI)
8 March 1879 p.2 col.5 - The Situation
13 March 1879 p.2 col.6-7 - After Many Days
3 April 1879 p.2 col.4 - Nomination Day
3 April 1879 p.3 col.4 - The Nominations
5 April 1879 p.2 col.1 - The Candidates
5 April 1879 p.3 col.4 - To the Free and Independent Electors of the Fourth District of Queens County
10 April 1879 p.2 cols.5-6 - The Result
10 April 1879 p.3 col.1 - The Result
26 April 1879 p.1 col.7 - To the Editor of the Patriot

Source: Examiner - December 16 1878 to June 25 1879 (Microfilm @ Robertson Library, UPEI)
10 April 1879, p.2 cols.1-2 “The Victory”; “The Contest and the Result”

Note : The sitting Free School Coalition (Liberals) resigned in March of 1878, placing the Opposition party - which had morphed from the Denominationalists into the Liberal-Conservatives - in power, at which point a general election was called. The election can be seen as simply Conservatives vs. Liberals; however, the affiliations listed in the database are those which the candidates used to refer to themselves, and so are used here.

Note : The results for PEI's 1879 general election for the House of Assembly are based on preliminary returns only. Unfortunately, the official (declaration day) results could not be located; however, we do know who ultimately won and lost.

  • Results
  • Districts
  • Charts
  • Legislature

Result

Total ElectorsValid BallotsValid VotesInvalid VotesTurnout Rate
UnavailableUnavailable23,862UnavailableUnavailable
PartyCandidatesSeats Won% of Seats Won% of Vote
Liberal-Conservative342482.76%63.40%
Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island21517.24%36.60%

Additional information for Liberal-Conservative

Citation : The Liberal-Conservatives were a political party that came to prominence in March of 1878. The party's origins can be traced back to the general election of 1876. While the Island’s political scene had been the mainstay of Liberals and Conservatives, these two traditional parties gave way to coalitions. 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 sitting Free School Coalition (Liberals) resigned in March of 1878, placing the Opposition party - which had morphed from the Denominationalists into the Liberal-Conservatives - in power, at which point a general election was called.

Citation : Source: Patriot - July 14 1877 to June 28 1879 (Microfilm @ Robertson Library, UPEI)
8 March 1879 p.2 col.5 - The Situation
13 March 1879 p.2 col.6-7 - After Many Days
3 April 1879 p.2 col.4 - Nomination Day
3 April 1879 p.3 col.4 - The Nominations
5 April 1879 p.2 col.1 - The Candidates
5 April 1879 p.3 col.4 - To the Free and Independent Electors of the Fourth District of Queens County
10 April 1879 p.2 cols.5-6 - The Result
10 April 1879 p.3 col.1 - The Result
26 April 1879 p.1 col.7 - To the Editor of the Patriot

Source: Examiner - December 16 1878 to June 25 1879 (Microfilm @ Robertson Library, UPEI)
10 April 1879, p.2 cols.1-2 “The Victory”; “The Contest and the Result”

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
1858
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeLauchlin MacDonaldLauchlin MacDonald was elected537
Liberal-ConservativeCharles MacEachern400
Liberal-ConservativeJames McLean442
Liberal-ConservativeJohn UderhayJohn Uderhay was elected479

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Kings County 2nd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1463
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandWilliam Hooper (PE)William Hooper (PE) was elected361
Liberal-ConservativeHilary McIsaac327
Liberal-ConservativeW. SullivanW. Sullivan was elected652
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandJohn Webster (PE)123

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Kings County 3rd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeDonald FergusonDonald Ferguson was elected0
Liberal-ConservativeJames McDonaldJames McDonald was elected0

Attributes

Acclamation Yes
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Kings County 4th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1682
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandMalcolm McFadyen401
Liberal-ConservativeWilliam PooleWilliam Poole was elected420
Liberal-ConservativeSamuel ProwseSamuel Prowse was elected517
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandJames Robertson344

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Kings County 5th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
570
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeDaniel GordonDaniel Gordon was elected206
Liberal-ConservativeArchibald MacdonaldArchibald Macdonald was elected181
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandGeorge Moar112
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandLewis Westaway71

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 1st District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1318
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeNicholas ConroyNicholas Conroy was elected417
Liberal-ConservativePeter GavinPeter Gavin was elected497
Liberal-ConservativeJames White404

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 2nd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1108
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeRobert Ellis83
Liberal-ConservativeEdward Ramsay71
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandJames RichardsJames Richards was elected456
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandJohn YeoJohn Yeo was elected498

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 3rd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1196
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeJoseph ArsenaultJoseph Arsenault was elected544
Liberal-ConservativeJohn MacDonald (PE)John MacDonald (PE) was elected389
Liberal-ConservativeJohn O'Connor263

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 4th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2082
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeG. BentleyG. Bentley was elected554
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandJohn Calhoun495
Liberal-ConservativeAugustus HollandAugustus Holland was elected542
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandWilliam Lea491

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Prince County 5th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1383
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandAlexander Allan333
Liberal-ConservativeT Kelly328
Liberal-ConservativeJohn LefurgeyJohn Lefurgey was elected351
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandAngus McMillanAngus McMillan was elected371

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 1st District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2238
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeDonald Cameron (PE)Donald Cameron (PE) was elected631
Liberal-ConservativeWilliam Campbell (PE)William Campbell (PE) was elected730
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandWilliam Rose382
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandWilliam Stewart495

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 2nd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2476
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal-ConservativeFrancis Bain593
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandDonald FarquharsonDonald Farquharson was elected607
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandWilliam Laird572
Liberal-ConservativeDonald McKay (PE)Donald McKay (PE) was elected704

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 3rd District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1842
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandHenry Beer (PE)573
Liberal-ConservativeFrancis KellyFrancis Kelly was elected640
Liberal-ConservativeRobert Shaw (PE)Robert Shaw (PE) was elected629

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 4th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
1740
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandJoseph Dixon400
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandJames Gay340
Liberal-ConservativeDonald MontgomeryDonald Montgomery was elected506
Liberal-ConservativeJames NicholsonJames Nicholson was elected494

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2

Queens County 5th District

Valid VoteInvalid VotesValid BallotsInvalid BallotsElectors
2906
Party NameCandidateElectedVotes
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandL. Davies702
Liberal-ConservativeGeorge DeBlois779
Liberal-ConservativeNeil McLeodNeil McLeod was elected819
Liberal Party of Prince Edward IslandThomas Morris (PE)606

Attributes

Acclamation No
Incomplete Data Yes
Electorial Formula DMP
District Magnitude 2