The 1847 United Kingdom general election was held from 29 July to 26 August 1847. It saw the Conservatives win the most seats but remain divided between Protectionists and Peelites. This allowed the Whigs, led by Prime Minister Lord John Russell, to retain power.

The general election was held amid the Great Irish famine. The Irish Repeal group won more seats than in the previous general election, while the Chartists gained the only seat they were ever to hold, Nottingham's second seat, held by Chartist leader Feargus O'Connor.

The election also witnessed the election of Britain's first Jewish MP, the Liberal Lionel de Rothschild in the City of London. Members being sworn in were however required to swear the Christian Oath of Allegiance, meaning Rothschild was unable actually to take his seat until the passage of the Jews Relief Act in 1858. The constituency of Sudbury, which elected two members, was disfranchised for this election. This accounts there being two fewer seats in the House of Commons as compared to the previous election, though no redistribution took place.

Results

Voting summary

Seats summary

Regional results

Great Britain Party Candidates Unopposed Seats Seats change Votes % % change & Liberal Conservatives 373 180 285 194,223 43.1 360 125 267 253,376 56.2 9 0 1 +1 2,848 0.6 Total 742 305 553 450,447 100

England Party Candidates Unopposed Seats Seats change Votes % % change & Liberal Conservatives 319 149 239 170,407 42.1 297 92 222 230,656 57.2 9 0 1 +1 2,848 0.7 Total 625 241 462 403,911 100

Scotland Party Candidates Unopposed Seats Seats change Votes % % change 48 21 33 +2 20,092 81.7 +20.9 & Liberal Conservatives 23 16 20 −2 3,509 18.3 −20.0 Total 71 37 53 23,601 100

Wales Party Candidates Unopposed Seats Seats change Votes % % change & Liberal Conservatives 22 15 20 11,114 89.5 13 12 12 1,394 10.5 Total 35 27 32 12,508 100

Ireland Party Candidates Unopposed Seats Seats change Votes % % change 38 24 29 −1 10,294 31.0 −6.1 11 9 11 964 3.0 51 18 36 14,128 43.6 33 11 25 5,935 20.2 3 0 2 629 2.0 1 0 0 32 0.2 Total 137 62 103 31,982 100

Universities Party Candidates Unopposed Seats Seats change Votes % % change & Liberal Conservatives 9 0 6 9,193 88.2 2 0 0 1,234 11.8 Total 11 0 6 10,427 100

Notes

References

Further reading

External links Spartacus: Political Parties and Election Results