Sir Charles Cowper (/ˈkaʊpər/),[1] KCMG (26 April 1807 – 19 October 1875) was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five occasions from 1856 to 1870.

He was personally popular, and towards the end of his life the estate of Wivenhoe was purchased by public subscription and settled on his wife.

[2] Educated by his father, in 1825 he joined the public service, and when 19 years of age was appointed clerk of the Clergy and School Lands Corporation.

[4] Cowper was first elected as the member of the Legislative Council for the County of Cumberland in 1843 after a bitter contest against James Macarthur and held his seat until 1850.

The association actively campaigned in Britain and, partly as a result, the British Government announced in December 1852 that there would be no more transportation to eastern Australia.

[2] When responsible government was established, Cowper was elected a member of the first Legislative Assembly in 1856 for Sydney City, which he represented until its abolition in 1859.

[5] Although Cowper was popular in 1856, his open association with the radicals, including Parkes, James Wilshire and Robert Campbell ruled him out from being considered for the premiership.

He subsequently opposed Parker's proposal to create 40 new members in the House, and distribute them according to population, because it did not widen the franchise.

[4] In December, his Government lost a vote on a proposal to increase the rents of pastoralists and to levy an assessment on their stock, but this time Governor Denison agreed to call an election, held in January 1858.

[6] Before administering the oath to the new members the President of the Council, Sir W. W. Burton, announced his resignation and left the chamber.

[2] Cowper's party won the February 1865 election and he became Premier for the fourth time, but he had difficulty in maintaining control of the Assembly.

In January 1866 Martin and Parkes, who had returned from London, defeated him and he resigned his seat to look after his private interests in February 1867.

[2] Cowper was Premier for the last time in January 1870 and was appointed Agent-General for New South Wales in London at the end of that year.