The 1859 United Kingdom general election in Ireland produced the last overall victory for the Conservatives in Ireland. They won a majority of seats on the island despite the Liberals receiving over 60% of the vote; this was partly due to a disproportionately large number of Conservative candidates standing unopposed. The franchise was restricted to the middle and upper classes.
Electoral reform in subsequent decades saw something of a rise in the Tory vote in Ireland accompanied by a diminution in the number of seats the party won. This was again due in some degree to the relative numbers of candidates standing unopposed for the two parties.
Results
1859 general election in Ireland[1] Party | Candidates | Unopposed | Seats | Seats change | Votes | % | % Change |
| Irish Conservative | 67 | 36 | 55 | 11 | 35,258 | 38.9 | 4.7 |
| Whig | 73 | 26 | 50 | 2 | 57,409 | 61.1 | 13.3 |
Total | 140 | 62 | 105 | | 92,667 | 100 | |
Popular vote | | | | Whigs | | 61.95% | Irish Conservative | | 38.05% | |
Parliamentary seats | | | | Irish Conservative | | 52.38% | Whigs | | 47.62% | |
See also
- History of Ireland (1801–1923)
References
- ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. British Electoral Facts: 1832–2012. p. 8.
United Kingdom elections in Ireland
General elections | |
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Local elections | |
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