It is widely credited by historians as having laid down the principles upon which the modern British Conservative Party is based.
In November 1834, King William IV removed the Whig Prime Minister Lord Melbourne and asked the Duke of Wellington, a Tory, to form a ministry.
Like many other manifestos in nineteenth-century British politics it was formally an address to the electors of the leader's own constituency, but reproduced widely.
In the event Tamworth was uncontested in 1835: Peel and his brother William were the only candidates – they were elected, i.e. "returned", unopposed.
[1] Nationally, Peel's party made gains, but the Whigs retained an overall majority and Melbourne returned to power in April.