United Kingdom general election, 1857
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27 March – 24 April 1857 (1857-03-27 – 1857-04-24) |
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All 654 seats in the House of Commons 328 seats needed for a majority |
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In the 1857 United Kingdom general election, the Whigs, led by Lord Palmerston, finally won a majority in the House of Commons as the Conservative vote fell significantly. The election had been provoked by a vote of censure in Palmerston's government over his approach to the Arrow affair which led to the Second Opium War. Aged 72 Palmerston became the oldest person to win a general election for the first time. As of 2018 there has been no person as old as Palmerston to win a general election for the first time.
Results
UK General Election 1857 |
Party |
Candidates |
Votes |
Stood |
Elected |
Gained |
Unseated |
Net |
% of total |
% |
№ |
Net % |
|
Whig |
507 |
377 |
|
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+53 |
57.65 |
64.77 |
464,127 |
+7.0 |
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Conservative |
351 |
264 |
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|
−66 |
40.37 |
33.45 |
239,712 |
−7.1 |
|
Chartist |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.1 |
614 |
−0.1 |
Total votes cast: 716,552.
[2][3]
Summary
Popular vote |
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Whig |
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64.77% |
Conservative |
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33.45% |
Others |
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1.69% |
Chartist |
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0.09% |
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Seats summary
Parliamentary seats |
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Whig |
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57.65% |
Conservative |
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40.37% |
Others |
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1.99% |
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