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

Sort by

Conservative

Benjamin Disraeli · 44.3%

350

seats

Liberal

William Ewart Gladstone · 52.0%

242

seats

Home Rule

Isaac Butt · 3.7%

seats


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.