title: January 1866 Williams colonial by-election
text: # January 1866 Williams colonial by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of The Williams on 22 January 1866 because Marshall Burdekin had been appointed Colonial Treasurer in the fourth Cowper ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required at both The Williams and West Sydney (John Robertson). Both Robertson and Burdekin were defeated, with the Cowper government falling, replaced by the second Martin ministry.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 1 January 1866 | Marshall Burdekin appointed Colonial Treasurer. |
  | 9 January 1866 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
  | 18 January 1866 | Nominations. |
  | 22 January 1866 | Polling day |
  | 31 January 1866 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Result
  
  1866 Williams by-election Monday 22 January :
  
  | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Frederick Manton (elected) | Frederick Manton (elected) | 366 | 56.1 |
  | Marshall Burdekin (defeated) | Marshall Burdekin (defeated) | 260 | 39.9 |
  | Henry Ellis | Henry Ellis | 26 | 4.0 |
  | Joseph Abbott | Joseph Abbott | 0 | 0.0 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 652 | 100.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | 652 | 57.0 |
  