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 Party Candidates Unopposed Seats Seats change Votes % % Change 67 36 55 11 35,258 38.9 4.7 73 26 50 2 57,409 61.1 13.3 Total 140 62 105 92,667 100.0
See also History of Ireland (1801–1923)
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