The fourth Minnesota Territorial Legislature first convened on January 5, 1853. The 9 members of the Minnesota Territorial Council were elected during the General Election of October 14, 1851, and the 18 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of October 12, 1852.
The territorial legislature met in a regular session from January 5, 1853, to March 5, 1853. There were no special sessions of the fourth territorial legislature.