It succeeded the First Philp Ministry on 17 September 1903 after Robert Philp's resignation following the defection of several Ministerialists on a key vote. Labour leader William Browne failed to form a ministry, and advised the Governor to send for the Speaker, Arthur Morgan. Morgan, who became leader of the Liberal faction in the Assembly, formed a coalition ministry containing two Labour members, Browne and William Kidston. Browne died on 12 April 1904 and was replaced in the Ministry by another Labour member, Peter Airey.
On 17 September 1903, the Governor, Herbert Chermside, designated eight principal executive offices of the Government, and appointed the following Members of the Parliament of Queensland to the Ministry as follows.
Back row: L to r: 1. F. Kenna; 2. J. Mann; 3. G.P. Barker; 4. G. Jackson; 5. J.A. Hargraves; 6. D. Bowman; 7. C.H.W. Reinhold;8. B. Herberton; 9. F. Greyson; 10. T.A. Scott; 11. A Ryland; 12. T. Bridges; 13. W.H. Ryott Maughan; 14. H.F. Hardacre; 15. J. Burrows.
Third row: L to r: 1. W. Hamilton; R.J. Hodge; 3. H.P. Somerset; T.W. Bouchard; 5. J. Tolmie; 6. D. Mulcany; 7. EM. Land; 8. J. O'Brien; 9. G. Martin; 10. G. Lindley; 11. W. Mitchell; 12. A.J. Jones; 13. H. Turner; 14. M. O'Keefe;; 15. T.A. Spencer; 16. A.J.W. Fudge; 17. V.B.J. Lesina; 18. W.S. Murphy. 19. M.J.R. Woods.
Second row: L to r: 1. T. Plunkett; D. Mackintosh; 3. G. Kerr. (LLP); Hon. P.A. Irey; 5. Hon. T.J. O'Sullivan; 6. Hon. J.J. Bell; 7. Hon. W. Kidson; 8. Hon. A. Morgan; 9. Hon. A.H. Barlow; 10: Hon. J.W. Blair; 11. Hon. D.F. Denham; 12. T. Dibley; 13: A.H.E. Barton; 14. H. Cowpar; 15. J.H. Dunsford; 16. C. F. Neilson.
Front row: L to r: 1. J. Norman; 2. F. McDonnell; 3. K.M. Grant.
Hughes, Colin A.; Graham, B. D. (1968). A handbook of Australian government and politics, 1890-1964. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 172. ISBN0-7081-0270-0.
