January 1863 West Sydney colonial by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of West Sydney on 8 January 1863 because William Windeyer resigned.^[1] Windeyer was a member of the victorious NSW rifle team which had traveled to Melbourne for a rifle match. They were returning to Sydney on the City of Sydney, an iron steamship, when it struck rocks and sank at Green Cape.^[2][3] While all passengers and crew survived, the Australian Dictionary of Biography states it affected Windeyer's mental and physical health which led to his resignation.^[4] Windeyer's letter to the electors of West Sydney refers to the successful passage of the Lands Act,^[5] the abolition of state aid to religion,^[6] and the pursuit of his profession as a barrister.^[7]