1865 General Election
11–24 July 1865 · Reform and Realignment · 658 seats, 330 for a majority
Palmerston's last hurrah, won months before his death. His passing unlocked the parliamentary reform question he had suppressed, setting up the Second Reform Act.
Prime Minister before
Viscount Palmerston
Liberal
Prime Minister (continued)
Viscount Palmerston
Liberal
Government formed
Liberal
Turnout
—
The result
| Share of Commons | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Viscount Palmerston | 369 | 508,821 | 59.5% | -6.3 | |
| Conservative | Earl of Derby | 289 | 346,035 | 40.5% | +6.3 |
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.