In London, Parliament defeats a key Conservative bill for reform and the Government resigns the next day

After a ten-day debate, the vote on the second reading of the Government's bill for Parliamentary Reform was defeated by a vote of 291 to 330.  Earl Derby, the leader of the minority Conservative government, resigned and Parliament was dissolved pending a general election. The election actually saw an increase in seats for the Conservatives but the majority Whig and Liberal based coalition remained in the majority and retook power on June 18, 1859. (By John Osborne)