The 1876 East Cumberland by-election was fought on 26 April 1876. The by-election was fought due to the death of the incumbent Conservative MP, William Nicholson Hodgson. It was won by the Liberal candidate Stafford Howard.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Stafford Howard | 2,939 | 51.4 | +15.5 | |
| Conservative | Mr. Musgrave | 2,783 | 48.6 | −15.5 | |
| Majority | 156 | 2.8 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 5,722 | 78.1 | +1.0 | ||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +15.5 | |||