1868 United Kingdom general election in Ireland

The 1868 United Kingdom general election in Ireland resulted in the Liberals under Gladstone strengthening their control over Ireland, particularly the south. It was the first election following the Representation of the People (Ireland) Act 1868.

1868 United Kingdom general election in Ireland

17 November – 7 December 1868 (1868-11-17 – 1868-12-07)
105 of the 652 seats to the House of Commons
First party Second party   Leader William Ewart Gladstone Benjamin Disraeli Party Liberal Conservative Leader since 3 December 1868 27 February 1868 Leader's seat Greenwich Buckinghamshire Seats before 58 47 Seats won 66 39 Seat change 8 8 Popular vote 54,461 38,765 Percentage 57.9% 41.9% Swing 2.3% 2.5%
Results of the 1868 election in Ireland

A key focus of the Liberal campaign was on their proposal to disestablish the Church of Ireland. The Church of Ireland's official role, as the Protestant national church of a Catholic majority country, had long proved controversial. The Tithe War of the 1830s had largely resulted in the abolition of tithes, which had been levied on Ireland's population (both Protestants and Catholics) to fund the Church of Ireland. Disestablishment was popular both in Ireland, and also amongst non-conformists and the Irish diaspora in Britain, particularly in the Celtic Fringe. This policy would be enacted following the election by the Irish Church Act 1869.

The election marked the high-water point of the Liberals in Ireland, and within 17 years they would have no seats at all in Ireland.

Results

Party		Candidates	Unopposed	Seats Won	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	85	41	66	8	54,461	57.9	2.3
	Irish Conservative	53	26	39	8	38,765	41.9	2.5
	Others	2	0	0		188	0.2	0.2
Total		140	67	105		149,341	100

The results from Dublin University, which returned two Conservatives to parliament, is not included in the vote total.

Popular vote Liberal   58.30% Irish Conservative   41.50% Others   0.20%

Parliamentary seats Liberal   62.86% Irish Conservative   37.14%

Following election petitions in Cashel, won by the Liberal Party, and Sligo, won by the Conservative Party, the MPs were unseated. Under the Sligo and Cashel Disfranchisement Act 1870, both boroughs lost their right to elect MPs.

See also

• History of Ireland (1801–1923)