Repeal Association

Last updated

Repeal Association
Leader Daniel O'Connell
Founded1830
Dissolved1848
Preceded by Catholic Association
Ideology Irish nationalism
Irish autonomy
National liberalism
Catholic emancipation
Political position Centre-left
"Daniel O'Connell: The Champion of Liberty" poster published in Pennsylvania, 1847. Daniel O'Connell2.jpg
"Daniel O'Connell: The Champion of Liberty" poster published in Pennsylvania, 1847.

The Repeal Association was an Irish mass membership political movement set up by Daniel O'Connell in 1830 to campaign for a repeal of the Acts of Union of 1800 between Great Britain and Ireland.

Contents

The Association's aim was to revert Ireland to the fully devolved government briefly achieved by Henry Grattan and his patriots in the 1780s—that is, complete legislative independence for the Parliament of Ireland under the British Crown—but this time with Catholic voting rights that were now possible following the Act of Emancipation in 1829, supported by the electorate approved under the Irish Reform Act 1832. On its failure by the late 1840s the Young Ireland movement developed.

Repealer candidates contested the 1832 United Kingdom general election in Ireland. Between 1835 and 1841, they formed a pact with the Whigs. Repealer candidates, unaffiliated with the Whig Party, contested the 1841 and 1847 general elections.

Electoral statistics

The seats figure in brackets is the position after election petitions and by-elections consequent upon election petitions, had been decided. There were 105 Irish MPs in the period.

Votes in 1835 and 1837 are included in the Liberal totals in Rallings and Thrasher's tables.

Sources: Walker and Rallings & Thrasher.

ElectionCandidatesUnopposedVotes % Irish votesMPs
1832 511431,77334.642 (39)
1835 4312......34 (32)
1837 3415......30 (31)
1841 221212,53724.820 (18)
1847 511814,12843.636 (35)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1865 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1865 United Kingdom general election saw the Liberals, led by Lord Palmerston, increase their large majority over the Earl of Derby's Conservatives to 80. The Whig Party changed its name to the Liberal Party between the previous election and this one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1847 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1847 United Kingdom general election was conducted between 29 July 1847 and 26 August 1847 and resulted in the Whigs in control of government despite candidates calling themselves Conservatives winning the most seats. The Conservatives were divided between Protectionists, led by Lord Stanley, and a minority of free-trade Tories, known also as Liberal Conservatives or the Peelites for their leader, former prime minister Sir Robert Peel. This left the Whigs, led by Prime Minister Lord John Russell, in a position to continue in government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1841 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1841 United Kingdom general election, was held between 29 June and 22 July 1841 to elect the new Parliament of the United Kingdom. In this election, there was a large swing as Sir Robert Peel's Conservatives took control of the House of Commons. Melbourne's Whigs had seen their support in the Commons erode over the previous years. Whilst Melbourne enjoyed the firm support of the young Queen Victoria, his ministry had seen increasing defeats in the Commons, culminating in the defeat of the government's budget in May 1841 by 36 votes, and by 1 vote in a 4 June 1841 vote of no confidence put forward by Peel. According to precedent, Melbourne's defeat required his resignation. However, the cabinet decided to ask for a dissolution, which was opposed by Melbourne personally, but he came to accept the wishes of the ministers. Melbourne requested the Queen dissolve Parliament, leading to an election. The Queen thus prorogued Parliament on 22 June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1835 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1835 United Kingdom general election was called when Parliament was dissolved on 29 December 1834. Polling took place between 6 January and 6 February 1835, and the results saw Robert Peel's Conservatives make large gains from their low of the 1832 election, but the Whigs maintained a large majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1832 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1832 United Kingdom general election was the first United Kingdom general election held in the Reformed House of Commons following the Reform Act, which introduced significant changes to the electoral system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliament constituency in the United Kingdom 1801–1974 and 1997 onwards

Windsor (/ˈwɪnzə/) is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament represented since 2024 by Jack Rankin of the Conservative Party. It was re-created for the 1997 general election after it was abolished following the 1970 general election and replaced by the Windsor and Maidenhead constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1831 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1831 United Kingdom general election saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result, it was the last unreformed election, as the following Parliament ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to 1 June 1831. The Whigs won a majority of 136 over the Tories, which was as near to a landslide as the unreformed electoral system could deliver. As the Government obtained a dissolution of Parliament once the new electoral system had been enacted, the resulting Parliament was a short one and there was another election the following year. The election was the first since 1715 to see a victory by a party previously in minority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1830 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1830 United Kingdom general election was triggered by the death of King George IV and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, King William IV. Fought in the aftermath of the Swing Riots, it saw electoral reform become a major election issue. Polling took place in July and August and the Tories won a plurality over the Whigs, but division among Tory MPs allowed Earl Grey to form an effective government and take the question of electoral reform to the country the following year.

Dublin City was an Irish borough constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It comprised the city of Dublin in the county of Dublin, and was represented by two Members of Parliament from its creation in 1801 until 1885.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1826 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1826 United Kingdom general election saw the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool win a substantial and increased majority over the Whigs. In Ireland, liberal Protestant candidates favouring Catholic emancipation, backed by the Catholic Association, achieved significant gains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1820 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1820 United Kingdom general election was triggered by the death of King George III and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, King George IV. It was held shortly after the Radical War in Scotland and the Cato Street Conspiracy. In this atmosphere, the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool were able to win a substantial majority over the Whigs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1802 United Kingdom general election</span> 1st election after the union of the United Kingdom and Ireland

The 1802 United Kingdom general election was the election to the House of Commons of the second Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was the first to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland. The first Parliament had been composed of members of the former Parliaments of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1807 United Kingdom general election</span> 3rd election after the union of Great Britain and Ireland

The 1807 United Kingdom general election was the third general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1812 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1812 United Kingdom general election was the fourth general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Grattan (junior)</span> Irish politician

Henry Grattan was an Irish politician, who was Member of Parliament for Dublin City on behalf of the Whigs from 1826 to 1830 in the British House of Commons. From 1831 to 1852, he represented Meath for the Repeal Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Carlow (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland, 1801–1922

County Carlow was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, and one MP from 1885 to 1922.

Cork City was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1880 to 1922 it returned two members of parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. From 1922 it was not represented in the UK Parliament, as it was no longer in the UK.

Downpatrick was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one MP. It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801.

A Liberal Repealer was a Liberal in Ireland, who supported the campaign of Daniel O'Connell for the repeal of the Act of Union 1801 and the re-creation of the Kingdom of Ireland and Parliament of Ireland which had existed before the union.

References