1837 General Election

24 July – 18 August 1837 · Reform and Realignment · 658 seats, 330 for a majority

Victoria's accession required the last accession-triggered general election. Melbourne's Whigs held on with a shrinking majority, increasingly dependent on O'Connell's Irish members.

Prime Minister before

Viscount Melbourne

Whig

Prime Minister (continued)

Viscount Melbourne

Whig

Government formed

Whig

Turnout

—

The result

Sort by

Whig

Viscount Melbourne · 52.4%

344

seats

Conservative

Sir Robert Peel · 47.6%

314

seats

			Share of Commons
Whig	Viscount Melbourne	344		418,331	52.4%	-4.8
Conservative	Sir Robert Peel	314		379,694	47.6%	+4.8

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.