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General relativity accounts for some phenomenon unexplained by the Newtonian theory. Albert Einstein showed, in 1915, how general relativity could describe the anomalous perihelion shift of Mercury. This was done without using any arbitrary parameters or fudge factors, as they are also known as.
It is significant to note the distinction between Newtonian physics and General relativity here.
In Newtonian physics, a two-body system consisting of a lone object orbiting a spherical mass would trace out an ellipse. The center of mass for the system would exist at the focus. The perihelion is the nearest point that Mercury will be to the Sun. This point is fixed. There are a number of effects in the Solar System that cause the perihelion to precess (rotate) around the Sun. The principle cause of the precession is the presence of other planets. These planets perturb one another's orbits.
Urbain Le Verrier
However, Mercury deviates from the predicted Newtonian effects. This first arose as a problem in celestial mechanics in 1859 when pointed out by Urbain Le Verrier, a French astronomer and mathematician. His calculations suggested that Mercury's actual rate of precession differed from the Newtonian prediction by 38 arc seconds per tropical century.
General relativity offers an explanation to this conundrum. The remaining precession, is explained by gravitation being mediated by the curvature of spacetime. Albert Einstein showed that General relativity agrees with the observed perihelion shift.
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