July 1865
General election

Previous event | Timeline | Next event

The Liberals win and the 80-year-old Palmerston becomes prime minister again. He dies shortly afterwards, and Lord John Russell takes over. He and Gladstone both believe in reforming Parliament and widening the vote. The Reform Bill they present in 1866 is defeated and they resign.

The Conservatives form a minority government. As before, Lord Derby leads the party and Disraeli is chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the Commons. Russell makes way for Gladstone as leader of the Liberal Party.

Top