1820 United Kingdom general election

1820 United Kingdom general election

← 1818 6 March – 14 April 1820 (1820-03-06 – 1820-04-14) 1826 →

All 658 seats in the House of Commons
330 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Earl of Liverpool Earl Grey
Party Pittite Whig
Leader since 8 June 1812
Seats won 341 215

The UK parliament after the 1820 election

Prime Minister before election

Earl of Liverpool
Pittite

Prime Minister after election

Earl of Liverpool
Pittite

The 1820 United Kingdom general election was triggered by the death of King George III and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, King George IV. It was held shortly after the Radical War in Scotland and the Cato Street Conspiracy. In this atmosphere, the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool were able to win a substantial majority over the Whigs.

The sixth United Kingdom Parliament was dissolved on 29 February 1820. The new Parliament was summoned to meet on 21 April 1820, for a maximum seven-year term from that date. The maximum term could be and normally was curtailed, by the monarch dissolving the Parliament before its term expired.