Sir Robert Balfour, 1st Baronet

Robert Balfour MP, circa 1900

Sir Robert Balfour, 1st Baronet (6 March 1844–4 November 1929) was a British Liberal Party politician who was Member of Parliament for Glasgow Partick from 1906 to 1922.

Background

He was born in Pilmuir, Largo, Fife in 1844, a son of James Balfour. He was educated at Madras College, St Andrews. He married Josephine Maria Beazley of Liverpool.[1] They had two sons.

Business career

In 1863 he joined the merchant firm Balfour, Williamson & Co. From 1869 to 1893, he was stationed in San Francisco. From 1893 to 1899 he was based in Liverpool and then in London from 1899.[2]

Political career

In 1906 he was elected Member of Parliament in Glasgow;

General Election 1906: Partick[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Balfour 9,477 54.3 +14.3
Conservative Rt Hon. James Parker Smith 7,960 45.7 -14.3
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing 14.3

He was re-elected at the following election;

General Election Jan 1910: Partick[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Balfour 10,093 51.5 -2.8
Liberal Unionist Archibald White Maconochie 9,522 48.5 +2.8
Liberal hold Swing -2.8

He was re-elected at the following election;

General Election Dec 1910: Partick[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Balfour 10,535 50.8 -0.7
Liberal Unionist Archibald White Maconochie 10,190 49.2 +0.7
Liberal hold Swing -0.7

At the following General Election in 1918, he supported the Coalition government of Lloyd George, and was awarded the 'coupon';

General Election 1918: Partick[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sir Robert Balfour 12,156 70.1 +19.2
Labour William Mackie 5,173 29.9 +29.9
Liberal hold Swing -5.4

He retired from parliament just before the 1922 General Election.

He was created a Baronet on 3 February 1911.[7][8] The baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1929.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Who's Who
  2. ↑ Glasgow Digital Library
  3. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  4. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  5. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  6. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28509. pp. 4832–4833. 30 June 1911.
  8. ↑ Who's Who
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
James Parker Smith		 Member of Parliament for Glasgow Partick
1906–1922 		Succeeded by
Robert John Collie
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