Earl of Derby Conservative Viscount Palmerston Whig The 1859 United Kingdom general election returned the Liberal Party to a majority of seats (356 out of 654) in the House of Commons.

The Earl of Derby's Conservatives formed a minority government, but despite having made small overall gains in the election, Derby's government was defeated in a confidence vote by an alliance of Palmerston's Whigs together with Peelites, Radicals, and the Irish Brigade.

Palmerston subsequently formed a new government from this alliance which is now considered to be the first Liberal Party administration.

As of 2024[update], this is the last election in which the Conservatives won the most seats in Wales.

The election also saw the lowest number of candidates between 1832 and 1885, with Tory gains potentially being the result of a lack of opposition as much as a change in public opinion.