The members of the 15th General Assembly of Newfoundland were elected in the Newfoundland general election held in October 1885. The general assembly sat from 1886 to 1889.
The Reform Party led by Robert Thorburn formed the government.
A.J.W. McNeilly was chosen as speaker.
Sir William Des Vœux served as colonial governor of Newfoundland until 1887. Sir Henry Arthur Blake succeeded Des Vœux as governor.
In 1887, the Ballot Act was passed which allowed voting by secret ballot as opposed to the previous system of public oral voting. In 1888, a new Elections Act was passed which defined the required qualifications for candidates for the House of Assembly. In 1889, a new Representation Act was passed which redefined the boundaries of electoral districts.
Members of the Assembly The following members were elected to the assembly in 1885: MemberElectoral districtAffiliationFirst elected / previously electedStephen R. MarchBay de VerdeReform Party1885Alexander J.W. McNeilly1873, 1885James L. NoonanBonavistaReform Party1869, 1883Abram Kean1885Frederick White1885Alfred B. Morine (1886)1886Donald Morison (1888)1888Alexander M. MackayBurgeo-La PoileReform Party1878John E. PetersBurinReform Party1882Henry LeMessurier1885Alfred PenneyCarbonearReform Party1882Daniel J. GreeneFerrylandLiberal1878George Shea1885James RollsFogoReform Party1885Robert BondFortune BayIndependent1882James S. WinterHarbour GraceReform Party1873Charles Dawe1878Joseph Godden1868, 1874, 1885John VeitchHarbour MainLiberal1885Richard MacDonnell1882James McGrathPlacentia and St. Mary'sLiberal1885William J. S. DonnellyLiberal1878Reform PartyGeorge H. EmersonLiberal1885George A. HutchingsPort de GraveReform Party1885Albert BradshawSt. BarbeReform Party1885Michael H. CartySt. George'sLiberal1882Robert J. KentSt. John's EastLiberal1873Ambrose Shea1848, 1874Michael J. O'Mara1878, 1885Thomas J. Murphy (1886)1886Robert John Parsons, Jr. (1887)1869, 1878, 1887Edward MorrisSt. John's WestLiberal1885Patrick J. Scott1873James J. Callanan1882Robert ThorburnTrinityReform Party1885Walter B. Grieve1885Ellis Watson1885Augustus F. GoodridgeTwillingateReform Party1880Smith McKay1882Michael T. Knight1885
By-elections By-elections were held to replace members for various reasons: Electoral districtMember electedAffiliationElection dateReasonTwillingateMichael T. KnightReform PartyJune 9, 1886MT Knight named to cabinet, so was required to run againBonavistaAlfred B. MorineIndependentJune 12, 1886JL Noonan named to cabinet, so was required to run againCarbonearAlfred PenneyReform PartyNovember 1, 1886A Penney named to cabinet, so was required to run againPlacentia and St. Mary'sWilliam J. S. DonnellyReform PartyNovember 1, 1886WJS Donnelly named to cabinet, so was required to run againSt. John's EastThomas J. MurphyLiberalNovember 6, 1886RJ Kent resigned seatSt. John's EastRobert John Parsons, Jr.LiberalNovember 12, 1887A Shea named governor of the BahamasBonavistaDonald MorisonReform PartyNovember 10, 1888First by-election for Newfoundland by secret ballotA Kean resigned seat
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