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

Sort by

Liberal

Viscount Palmerston · 59.5%

369

seats

Conservative

Earl of Derby · 40.5%

289

seats

			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.