1812 United Kingdom general election

Background. After the 1807 election the Pittite Tory ministry, led by the Duke of Portland, continued prosecuting the Napoleonic Wars. Portland resigned in 1809 as his health failed, and Spencer Perceval became the new Tory Prime Minister. In April 1812 Perceval brought Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth, into the cabinet, but a month later, on 11 May 1812, Perceval was assassinated.

Liverpool's Appointment. Following Perceval's assassination on 11 May 1812, the Cabinet proposed Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, as successor, but James Stuart-Wortley moved a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons. Liverpool was confirmed as prime minister on 8 June 1812. He then called a general election in October 1812 to increase the government's majority in the House of Commons.

The Campaign. The fourth United Kingdom Parliament was dissolved on 29 September 1812, four months after Liverpool succeeded to the premiership. The election, the fourth after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland, took place at the height of the Napoleonic Wars, with contests running from 5 October to 10 November 1812. The opposition Foxite Whigs, led by Earl Grey since Fox's death in 1806, had weak leadership in the Commons after Grey entered the Lords in 1807.

Outcome. The general election of 1812 returned the Tories to power for another term. The new Parliament was summoned to meet on 24 November 1812, for a maximum seven-year term from that date. Constituency contests varied in character: polling in the Berkshire election lasted 15 days with 1,992 electors voting, and the Irish constituency of Westmeath was cited as an example of the election's conduct.