Sir Robert Balfour, 1st Baronet
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
- Glasgow Digital Library; http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/eyrwho/eyrwho0302.htm
- Who's Who; http://www.ukwhoswho.com
References
- ↑ Who's Who
- ↑ Glasgow Digital Library
- ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
- ↑ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
- ↑ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
- ↑ Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28509. pp. 4832–4833. 30 June 1911.
- ↑ 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 |