1859 General Election

28 April – 18 May 1859 · Reform and Realignment · 654 seats, 328 for a majority

Derby's Conservatives gained but fell short again. Weeks later Whigs, Peelites and Radicals met at Willis's Rooms to unite behind Palmerston, the founding moment of the Liberal Party.

Prime Minister before

Earl of Derby

Conservative

Prime Minister after

Viscount Palmerston

Whig

Government formed

Whig

Turnout

—

The result

Sort by

Liberal

Viscount Palmerston · 65.8%

356

seats

Conservative

Earl of Derby · 34.2%

298

seats

			Share of Commons
Liberal	Viscount Palmerston	356		372,117	65.8%	+1.0
Conservative	Earl of Derby	298		193,232	34.2%	+0.7

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.