1847

The Provisional Lunatic Asylum is established on the present site of the Waterford Hospital.

1848

November: 4th general election.

1851

December: A sealers association is formed in St. John's.

1852

A military hospital is established with 41 beds in St. John's. It may have been at Military Road and Cochrane Street.

November: 5th general election.

1854

The New Lunatic Asylum is opened. Over the years, it will be called the Hospital for the Insane, Hospital for the Mentally Ill, and Hospital for Mental and Nervous Disorders. It will finally become the Waterford Hospital.

The first cholera epidemic comes to St. John's.

1855

A system of responsible government, based on British parliament, is established. From this time on, the head of government is an elected prime minister, not an appointed governor.

May: 6th general election. Philip Francis Little becomes the first prime minister of Newfoundland.

1859

November: 7th general election. John Kent is elected prime minister.

1861

May: 8th general election causes riots. The worst are at Harbour Main and Harbour Grace. Hugh Hoyles becomes prime minister.

November and December: Arthur Smith, age 8, and Warwick Smith, age 4, sons of the Reverend Benjamin Smith, die of diphtheria in Trinity.

1861-1864

The fishery goes through a bad time. Many people need government aid.