1874 General Election
31 January – 17 February 1874 · The Mass Franchise · 652 seats, 327 for a majority
Disraeli won the first outright Conservative majority since 1841, aided by newly organised party machinery and suburban 'villa Toryism'. Gladstone temporarily retired, calling the defeat a release.
Prime Minister before
William Gladstone
Liberal
Prime Minister after
Benjamin Disraeli
Conservative
Government formed
Conservative
Turnout
—
The result
| Share of Commons | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Benjamin Disraeli | 350 | 1,091,708 | 44.3% | +5.6 | |
| Liberal | William Ewart Gladstone | 242 | 1,281,159 | 52.0% | -9.2 | |
| Home Rule | Isaac Butt | 60 | 90,234 | 3.7% | — |
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.