March 1679 English general election

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March 1679 English general election
Flag of England.svg
  1661 March 1679 Oct 1679  
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (3x4 cropped).jpg
Tor
Leader Anthony Ashley Cooper John Ernle
Party Whig Tory Unknown
Seats won218137167
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 79Decrease2.svg 242

The March 1679 English general election resulted in the Habeas Corpus Parliament, named after the Habeas Corpus Act, which it enacted in May, 1679 to define and strengthen the ancient prerogative writ benefitting all subjects. It was dissolved while in recess on 12 July 1679.

The English Parliament after the March 1679 General Election English 1679.svg
The English Parliament after the March 1679 General Election

On the current issue of excluding the King's younger brother from the succession to the throne, 218 members were in favour of the Exclusion Bill, while 137 were opposed. However, 167 members did not attend the parliament at all, so their view about Exclusion is unknown.

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