1661 English general election

General election in England May 2024 1661 English general election Kingdom of England parliamentary no 1660 English general election 1660 March 1679 English general election Mar 1679 1661 160x160px Edward Hyde Tories (British political party) Cavalier 379 160x160px Denzil Holles Roundhead Whigs (British political party) 139 English 1661.svg Composition of the House of Commons after the election The 1661 English general election returned a majority of members in support of Charles II of England. This Parliament was called the Cavalier Parliament, since many of the MPs elected were former Cavaliers or the sons of Cavaliers. Both the Whig and Tory parties were not formed until 1678, and so in the interim 18 years, members were loosely defined rather by their obeisance or opposition to The Kings Government. These Factions initially resisted classification into parties, but by the 70s there was some understanding of the emergence of a 'court party' (in support of the King) and 'country party' (opposing him). During the course of the Parliament, there was considerable movement between these camps, both with members defecting to the other team, and with new members being called up via by-election, such that by its dissolution in 1679, 511 seats were divided into 274 Court and 237 Opposition.Henning, Basuk Duke (1983). "The House of Commons, 1660-1690: Introductory survey. Appendices. Constituencies. Members A-B" Boydell & Brewer, 1983 0436192748. See also List of MPs elected to the English Parliament in 1661 References The History of Parliament The House of Commons, 1660–1690 Basil Henning Secker & Warburg 1983 External links History of Parliament History of Parliament, Constituencies 1660–1690 https://web.archive.org/web/20230928202827/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/research/constituencies/constituencies-1660-1690 28 September 2023 Category:17th-century elections in Europe Category:1661 in politics 1661 General election