title: 1780 British general election
text: # 1780 British general election
  
  The 1780 British general election returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Great Britain to be summoned after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election was held during the American War of Independence and returned Lord North to form a new government with a small and rocky majority. The opposition consisted largely of the Rockingham Whigs, the Whig faction led by the Marquess of Rockingham. North's opponents referred to his supporters as Tories, but no Tory party existed at the time and his supporters rejected the label.
  
  ## Summary of the constituencies
  
  See 1796 British general election for details. The constituencies used were the same throughout the existence of the Parliament of Great Britain.
  
  ## Dates of election
  
  The general election was held between 6 September 1780 and 18 October 1780.
  
  At this period elections did not take place at the same time in every constituency. The returning officer in each county or parliamentary borough fixed the precise date (see hustings for details of the conduct of the elections).
  
  ## Results
  
  ### Seats summary
  
  Parliamentary seats
  
  Tory
  
  50.6%
  
  Rockinghamite
  
  49.4% :
  
  