1852 General Election

7–31 July 1852 · Reform and Realignment · 654 seats, 328 for a majority

Derby's minority Conservatives, still committed to protection, narrowly outpolled a fractured opposition. The hung result produced the Aberdeen coalition of Whigs and Peelites within months.

Prime Minister before

Earl of Derby

Conservative

Prime Minister (continued)

Earl of Derby

Conservative

Government formed

Conservative

Turnout

—

The result

Sort by

Conservative

Earl of Derby · 41.9%

330

seats

Whig

Lord John Russell · 57.9%

324

seats

			Share of Commons
Conservative	Earl of Derby	330		311,481	41.9%	-0.8
Whig	Lord John Russell	324		430,882	57.9%	+4.1

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.