1832 General Election

The first reformed election

8 December 1832 – 8 January 1833 · Reform and Realignment · 658 seats, 330 for a majority

The first election under the Great Reform Act: rotten boroughs abolished, industrial towns enfranchised and the electorate expanded by roughly half. Grey's Whigs won an overwhelming mandate for the reformed system.

Prime Minister before

Earl Grey

Whig

Prime Minister (continued)

Earl Grey

Whig

Government formed

Whig

Turnout

—

The result

Sort by

Whig

Earl Grey · 67.0%

441

seats

Tory

Duke of Wellington · 29.2%

175

seats

Irish Repeal

Daniel O'Connell · 3.8%

seats


Whig	Earl Grey	441	554,719	67.0%	+3.7
Tory	Duke of Wellington	175	241,284	29.2%	-7.5
Irish Repeal	Daniel O'Connell	42	31,773	3.8%	—

Before 1918, party labels were looser and many seats went uncontested, so vote totals and shares understate real support. Seat counts are the reliable measure.