This was the first time the pejorative words Whig and Tory were used as names for political groupings in the Parliament of England.

One borough had a double return, where multiple members were recorded elected, and another was subsequently voided by Parliament, forcing a by-election.

[1] While the number of seats had not changed from the previous election, their electorate had been substantially altered by royal influence.

Following the Exclusion crisis, ninety-nine boroughs had received new charters, the aim being to eliminate the influence of the Whigs.

There was an unusually high share of government officials and military officers, and fewer country gentry.