# 1871 Ontario general election

The 1871 Ontario general election was the second general election held in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on March 21, 1871, to elect the 82 Members of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").
The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Edward Blake, won a slim majority of the seats, and formed the government.
The Ontario Conservative Party, led by John Sandfield Macdonald, served as the official opposition.

## Electoral reforms

Earlier in 1871, the Legislative Assembly passed an Act to give the courts jurisdiction to rule on petitions dealing with corrupt practices in elections.
In 1872, the Parliament of Canada passed an Act to compel MPs who were also members of a provincial legislature to resign such seats if they wished to stand again in a federal election. Five MLAs in the 1871 election were thus obliged to leave the Legislative Assembly in order to stand in federal ridings in 1872.

## Results

Elections to the 2nd Parliament of Ontario (1871) :
| Political party | Political party | Party leader | MLAs | MLAs | MLAs | MLAs | Votes | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Political party | Political party | Party leader | Candidates | 1867 | 1871 | ± | # | ± | % | ± (pp) |
| | Liberal | | 76 | 41 | 43 | 2 | 68,366 | 9,323 | 52.30% | 3.54 |
| | Conservative | | 73 | 41 | 38 | 3 | 59,926 | 20,185 | 45.85% | 4.44 |
| | Conservative-Liberal | | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1,116 | 1,116 | 0.85% | New |
| | Independent | | 9 | – | – | – | 1,303 | 220 | 1.00% | 0.04 |
| Total | Total | Total | 159 | 82 | 88 | 88 | 130,711 | 130,711 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | Voter turnout | Voter turnout | Voter turnout | Voter turnout | Voter turnout | 130,711 | 28,612 | 62.93 | 10.93 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 207,717 | 8,005 | | |
| Acclamations | Acclamations | Acclamations | █ Liberal | █ Liberal | 7 |
| Acclamations | Acclamations | Acclamations | █ Conservative | █ Conservative | 8 |
| Other candidates receiving nil votes | Other candidates receiving nil votes | Other candidates receiving nil votes | █ Independent | █ Independent | 2 |
* ↑ one in Halton, and another in Peel
Seats and popular vote by party :
| Party | Seats | Votes | Change (pp) | Change (pp) |
| █ Liberal | 43 / 88 | 52.30% | 3.54 | 3.54 |
| █ Conservative | 38 / 88 | 45.85% | -4.44 | |
| █ Other | 1 / 88 | 1.85% | 0.90 | 0.9 |

### Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1871 Ontario general election :
| Riding | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Turnout | Votes | Votes | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Name | 1867 | 1867 | Party | Party | Votes | Share | Margin # | Margin % | Turnout | Lib | Con | CL | Ind | Total |
| Addington | | Con | | Lib | 809 | 50.82% | 26 | 1.63% | 59.31% | 809 | 783 | – | – | 1,592 |
| Algoma | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Bothwell | | Lib | | Lib | 1,304 | 55.02% | 238 | 10.04% | 72.17% | 1,304 | 1,066 | – | – | 2,370 |
| Brant North | | Lib | | Lib | 740 | 60.26% | 252 | 20.52% | 60.73% | 740 | 488 | – | – | 1,228 |
| Brant South | | Con | | Con | 1,172 | 52.70% | 120 | 5.40% | 66.55% | 1,052 | 1,172 | – | – | 2,224 |
| Brockville and Elizabethtown | | Con | | Con | 620 | 50.28% | 7 | 0.57% | 66.33% | 613 | 620 | – | – | 1,233 |
| Bruce North | | Lib | | Lib | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Bruce South | | Lib | | Lib | 2,082 | 55.21% | 393 | 10.42% | 79.79% | 2,082 | 1,689 | – | – | 3,771 |
| Cardwell | | Con | | CL | 1,116 | 63.16% | 465 | 26.32% | 67.14% | 651 | – | 1,116 | – | 1,767 |
| Carleton | | Lib | | Con | 822 | 50.31% | 10 | 0.61% | 63.46% | 812 | 822 | – | – | 1,634 |
| Cornwall | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Dundas | | Lib | | Lib | 1,216 | 56.09% | 264 | 12.18% | 76.28% | 1,216 | 952 | – | – | 2,168 |
| Durham East | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Durham West | | Lib | | Lib | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Elgin East | | Con | | Lib | 1,442 | 53.11% | 169 | 6.22% | 63.82% | 1,442 | 1,273 | – | – | 2,715 |
| Elgin West | | Con | | Lib | 969 | 55.69% | 198 | 11.38% | 76.55% | 969 | 771 | – | – | 1,740 |
| Essex | | Con | | Lib | 1,204 | 51.23% | 418 | 17.79% | 50.95% | 1,204 | 786 | – | 360 | 2,350 |
| Frontenac | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Glengarry | | Con | | Con | 962 | 52.89% | 105 | 5.77% | 72.30% | 857 | 962 | – | – | 1,819 |
| Grenville South | | Con | | Con | 797 | 51.22% | 38 | 2.44% | 76.42% | 759 | 797 | – | – | 1,556 |
| Grey North | | Con | | Con | 1,339 | 58.42% | 386 | 16.84% | 50.22% | 953 | 1,339 | – | – | 2,292 |
| Grey South | | Con | | Con | 1,625 | 59.92% | 538 | 19.84% | 61.83% | 1,087 | 1,625 | – | – | 2,712 |
| Haldimand | | Lib | | Lib | 1,212 | 60.78% | 430 | 21.56% | 59.90% | 1,212 | 782 | – | – | 1,994 |
| Halton | | Lib | | Lib | 1,194 | 55.98% | 255 | 11.95% | 57.51% | 1,194 | 939 | – | – | 2,133 |
| Hamilton | | Lib | | Lib | 1,294 | 54.23% | 202 | 8.47% | 60.54% | 1,294 | 1,092 | – | – | 2,386 |
| Hastings East | | Con | | Con | 186 | 88.57% | 162 | 77.14% | 10.10% | 24 | 186 | – | – | 210 |
| Hastings North | | Con | | Con | 604 | 86.04% | 506 | 72.08% | 41.29% | 98 | 604 | – | – | 702 |
| Hastings West | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Huron North | | Con | | Lib | 2,259 | 55.86% | 474 | 11.72% | 68.67% | 2,259 | 1,785 | – | – | 4,044 |
| Huron South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,561 | 53.55% | 207 | 7.10% | 71.64% | 1,561 | 1,354 | – | – | 2,915 |
| Kent | | Lib | | Lib | 1,382 | 53.55% | 183 | 7.09% | 61.15% | 1,382 | 1,199 | – | – | 2,581 |
| Kingston | | Con | | Con | 607 | 50.04% | 21 | 1.73% | 58.21% | 586 | 607 | – | 20 | 1,213 |
| Lambton | | Lib | | Lib | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Lanark North | | Lib | | Lib | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Lanark South | | Con | | Con | 816 | 42.88% | 150 | 7.88% | 66.10% | 666 | 816 | – | 421 | 1,903 |
| Leeds North and Grenville North | | Lib | | Con | 723 | 61.01% | 261 | 22.03% | 52.71% | 462 | 723 | – | – | 1,185 |
| Leeds South | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Lennox | | Con | | Con | 1,183 | 56.41% | 269 | 12.83% | 62.95% | – | 2,097 | – | – | 2,097 |
| Lincoln | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| London | | Con | | Con | 985 | 63.84% | 427 | 27.67% | 57.06% | 558 | 985 | – | – | 1,543 |
| Middlesex East | | Lib | | Con | 1,622 | 51.41% | 89 | 2.82% | 74.92% | 1,533 | 1,622 | – | – | 3,155 |
| Middlesex North | | Lib | | Lib | 1,286 | 56.58% | 299 | 13.15% | 69.34% | 1,286 | 987 | – | – | 2,273 |
| Middlesex West | | Con | | Lib | 1,362 | 58.81% | 408 | 17.62% | 77.17% | 1,362 | 954 | – | – | 2,316 |
| Monck | | Con | | Con | 931 | 50.13% | 5 | 0.27% | 66.35% | 926 | 931 | – | – | 1,857 |
| Niagara | | Con | | Con | 277 | 62.25% | 109 | 24.49% | 56.98% | 168 | 277 | – | – | 445 |
| Norfolk North | | Con | | Lib | 1,122 | 56.78% | 268 | 13.56% | 74.43% | 1,122 | 854 | – | – | 1,976 |
| Norfolk South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,009 | 53.30% | 125 | 6.60% | 71.73% | 1,009 | 884 | – | – | 1,893 |
| Northumberland East | | Lib | | Lib | 694 | 37.70% | 30 | 1.63% | 53.22% | 694 | 664 | – | 483 | 1,841 |
| Northumberland West | | Lib | | Lib | 1,013 | 50.90% | 36 | 1.81% | 67.48% | 1,013 | 977 | – | – | 1,990 |
| Ontario North | | Lib | | Lib | 1,279 | 73.80% | 833 | 48.07% | 44.11% | 1,279 | 446 | – | – | 1,733 |
| Ontario South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,180 | 52.17% | 98 | 4.33% | 65.81% | 1,180 | 1,082 | – | – | 2,262 |
| Ottawa | | Lib | | Lib | 574 | 76.33% | 396 | 52.66% | 27.68% | 574 | 178 | – | – | 752 |
| Oxford North | | Lib | | Lib | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Oxford South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,430 | 57.78% | 385 | 15.56% | 65.86% | 1,430 | 1,045 | – | – | 2,475 |
| Peel | | Con | | Con | 1,118 | 51.36% | 59 | 2.71% | 75.91% | 1,059 | 1,118 | – | – | 2,177 |
| Perth North | | Con | | Con | 1,630 | 57.88% | 444 | 15.77% | 68.20% | 1,186 | 1,630 | – | – | 2,816 |
| Perth South | | Lib | | Con | 1,302 | 50.60% | 31 | 1.20% | 71.99% | 1,271 | 1,302 | – | – | 2,573 |
| Peterborough East | | Con | | Con | 779 | 61.68% | 299 | 23.67% | 60.55% | 480 | 779 | – | 4 | 1,263 |
| Peterborough West | | Con | | Lib | 648 | 52.13% | 53 | 4.26% | 69.91% | 648 | 595 | – | – | 1,243 |
| Prescott | | Lib | | Con | 853 | 54.26% | 134 | 8.52% | 75.61% | 719 | 853 | – | – | 1,572 |
| Prince Edward | | Lib | | Lib | 1,522 | 52.23% | 130 | 4.46% | 78.19% | 1,522 | 1,392 | – | – | 2,914 |
| Renfrew North | | Con | | Con | 640 | 56.74% | 152 | 13.48% | 74.31% | 488 | 640 | – | – | 1,128 |
| Renfrew South | | Lib | | Con | 448 | 63.46% | 190 | 26.91% | 59.88% | 258 | 448 | – | – | 706 |
| Russell | | Con | | Con | 773 | 51.29% | 46 | 3.05% | 56.15% | 727 | 773 | – | 7 | 1,507 |
| Simcoe North | | Lib | | Con | 1,354 | 44.39% | 313 | 10.26% | 69.41% | 1,696 | 1,354 | – | – | 3,050 |
| Simcoe South | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Stormont | | Con | | Con | 705 | 50.18% | 5 | 0.36% | 74.34% | 700 | 705 | – | – | 1,405 |
| Toronto East | | Con | | Con | 1,232 | 52.56% | 120 | 5.12% | 52.26% | 1,112 | 1,232 | – | – | 2,344 |
| Toronto West | | Con | | Lib | 1,487 | 53.05% | 171 | 6.10% | 51.84% | 1,487 | 1,316 | – | – | 2,803 |
| Victoria North | | Lib | | Con | 518 | 54.76% | 90 | 9.51% | 61.55% | 428 | 518 | – | – | 946 |
| Victoria South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,046 | 60.05% | 350 | 20.09% | 59.97% | 1,742 | – | – | – | 1,742 |
| Waterloo North | | Lib | | Lib | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Waterloo South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,215 | 60.27% | 414 | 20.54% | 69.42% | 1,215 | 801 | – | – | 2,016 |
| Welland | | Lib | | Lib | 1,182 | 53.12% | 139 | 6.25% | 61.08% | 2,225 | – | – | – | 2,225 |
| Wellington Centre | | Con | | Lib | 1,465 | 64.94% | 674 | 29.88% | 58.89% | 1,465 | 791 | – | – | 2,256 |
| Wellington North | | Lib | | Lib | 1,531 | 63.53% | 652 | 27.05% | 59.40% | 1,531 | 879 | – | – | 2,410 |
| Wellington South | | Lib | | Lib | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Wentworth North | | Lib | | Lib | 1,071 | 57.24% | 271 | 14.48% | 70.95% | 1,071 | 800 | – | – | 1,871 |
| Wentworth South | | Lib | | Lib | 957 | 66.97% | 485 | 33.94% | 56.08% | 957 | 472 | – | – | 1,429 |
| York East | | Lib | | Lib | 791 | 70.19% | 455 | 40.37% | 36.52% | 791 | 336 | – | – | 1,127 |
| York North | | Lib | | Con | 1,306 | 50.10% | 5 | 0.19% | 66.64% | 1,301 | 1,306 | – | – | 2,607 |
| York West | | Con | | Lib | 865 | 56.32% | 194 | 12.63% | 62.54% | 865 | 671 | – | – | 1,536 |
* ↑ order is as given in EO reports
* 1 2 Edward Blake was elected in two ridings.
* ↑ the incumbent John Stevenson received 914 votes
* 1 2 James Wilson (incumbent in Norfolk North) campaigned and lost in two ridings
* ↑ William Anderson had been elected as a Liberal in an 1870 byelection
* ↑ the incumbent William Lount received 655 votes
* ↑ the incumbent Thomas Matchett received 696 votes
* ↑ the incumbent William Beatty received 1,043 votes
    = open seat
    = turnout is above provincial average
    = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
    = incumbent had switched allegiance
    = previously incumbent in another riding
    = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
    = incumbency arose from byelection gain
    = other incumbents renominated
    = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
    = multiple candidates

### Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place :
| Party in 1st place | Party in 1st place | Party in 2nd place | Party in 2nd place | Party in 2nd place | Total |
| Party in 1st place | Party in 1st place | Accl | Lib | Con | Total |
| | Liberal | 7 | 2 | 34 | 43 |
| | Conservative | 8 | 29 | 1 | 38 |
| | Conservative-Liberal | | 1 | | 1 |
| Total | Total | 15 | 32 | 35 | 82 |
Candidates ranked 1st to 3rd place, by party :
| Parties | Accl | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| █ Liberal | 7 | 36 | 32 | 1 |
| █ Conservative | 8 | 30 | 35 | |
| █ Conservative-Liberal | | 1 | | |
| █ Independent | | | | 7 |
Resulting composition of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario :
| Source | Source | Party | Party | Party | Party |
| Source | Source | Lib | Con | CL | Total |
| Seats retained | Incumbents returned | 19 | 16 | | 35 |
| Seats retained | Returned by acclamation | 7 | 8 | | 15 |
| Seats retained | Open seats held | | 3 | | 3 |
| Seats retained | Ouster of incumbents changing allegiance | 4 | | | 4 |
| Seats retained | Defeat of incumbent by same-party candidate | 2 | 1 | | 3 |
| Seats retained | Byelection loss reversed | | 1 | | 1 |
| Seats changing hands | Incumbents defeated | 8 | 7 | | 15 |
| Seats changing hands | Open seats gained | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Total | Total | 43 | 38 | 1 | 82 |

### MLAs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

### Later resignations on campaigning at the federal level

| Resignation | Resignation | Resignation | Resignation | New incoming MLA | New incoming MLA |
| District | Outgoing MLA | Outgoing MLA | Elected as MP | Winner | Winner |
| 1872 federal election ||||||
| Bruce South | | Edward Blake | Y | | Rupert Mearse Wells |
| London | | John Carling | Y | | William Ralph Meredith |
| Middlesex West | | Alexander Mackenzie | Y | | John Watterworth |
| Monck | | Lachlin McCallum | N | | Henry Ryan Haney |
| 1873 federal byelection (Durham West) ||||||
| Brant South | | Edmund Burke Wood | Y | | Arthur Sturgis Hardy |
| 1874 federal election ||||||
| Wellington North | | Robert McKim | N | | George Turner Orton |
* ↑ elected in Lambton
* ↑ campaigned in Wellington Centre