1847 Hamilton municipal election

January 12, 1847

Nominee Collin Ferrie Party Independent Electoral vote 9 Percentage 90%

Mayor before election office created Elected Mayor Collin Ferrie Independent

The 1847 Hamilton municipal election was the first election held to the newly incorporated Town of Hamilton. The vote was held on January 12, 1847 to select ten members to represent each of the city's five wards on the Hamilton, Ontario, City Council.^[1] Those councillors would, in turn, elect one mayor from their ranks and an additional councillor to represent the seat they vacated on Saturday, January 16, 1847.^[2]

Mayoral Election

The first council of the City of Hamilton met on Saturday, 16 January 1847, to elect a mayor from among their ranks. The Hamilton Spectator and Journal of Commerce reported that "after some discussion", St. Mary's ward councillor Colin Ferrie was proposed and a vote was held, where only one councillor voted against Ferrie's assuming the office. Following the election of Ferrie as mayor, councillors selected Alexander Carpenter as Ferrie's replacement on city council.^[3]

Summary of the January 16, 1847 Hamilton, Ontario Mayoral Election

Candidate		Affiliation	Council vote		Elected?
			For	Against
	Colin Ferrie	Independent	9	1
Total votes			10
Note: The mayor was elected by councillors from among their ranks.
Sources: [3]

Councillors

St. Andrew's Ward

Summary of the January 12, 1847 Hamilton, Ontario St. Andrew's Ward Election

Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote	Elected?
			Votes
	H.B. Wilson	Independent	156
	(?) Gunn	Independent	126
	Thomas Gillesby	Independent	59
Total votes
Registered voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: [4]

St. George's Ward

Summary of the January 12, 1847 Hamilton, Ontario St. George's Ward Election

Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote	Elected?
			Votes
	(?) Freeman	Independent	86
	(?) Mills	Independent	84
	(?) Walker	Independent	39
Total votes
Registered voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: [4]

St. Patrick's Ward

Summary of the January 12, 1847 Hamilton, Ontario St. Patrick's Ward Election

Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote	Elected?
			Votes
	(?) Kelly	Independent	131
	(?) O'Reilly	Independent	107
	(?) Clemeat	Independent	86
Total votes
Registered voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: [4][5]

St. Lawrence Ward

Summary of the January 12, 1847 Hamilton, Ontario St. Lawrence Ward Election

Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote	Elected?
			Votes
	(?) Ford	Independent	113
	(?) Counsel	Independent	75
	(?) Winer	Independent	71
Total votes
Registered voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: [4]

St. Mary's Ward

Summary of the January 12, 1847 Hamilton, Ontario St. Mary's Ward Election

Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote	Elected?
			Votes
	Colin Ferrie	Independent	110
	Andrew "Yankee" Miller	Independent	88
	(?) Webster	Independent	68
Total votes
Registered voters
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: [4][6]

References