Sir Robert Balfour, 1st Baronet

Sir Robert Balfour, 1st Baronet (6 March 1844 – 4 November 1929) was a Scottish Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1906 to 1922. He was the member of parliament for Partick from 1906 to 1918, and for or Glasgow Partick from 1918 to 1922.

Robert Balfour MP, circa 1900

Background

He was born in Pilmuir, Largo, Fife in 1844, a son of James Balfour. He was educated at Madras College in 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, Balfour was elected as a Member of Parliament in Glasgow. At the following General Election in 1918, he supported the Coalition government of Lloyd George, and was awarded the 'coupon'; He retired from Parliament just before the 1922 UK general election.

He was created a Baronet on 3 February 1911.[3][4] The baronetcy became extinct upon his death in 1929.

Electoral history
General election 1906: Partick[5]
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
General election Jan 1910: Partick[6]
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
General election Dec 1910: Partick[7]
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
General election 1918: Partick[8]
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

Notes
  1. Who's Who
  2. Glasgow Digital Library
  3. "No. 28509". The London Gazette. 30 June 1911. pp. 4832–4833.
  4. Who's Who
  5. Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  6. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  7. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  8. Whitaker's Almanack, 1920

References

Further reading
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