About James Balfour
Lived 1775 – 1845 (aged 69–70). James Balfour was a British politician.
James Balfour ( 1775 – 19 April 1845) was a Scottish nabob who became a landowner and politician. The son of a prosperous and influential Scottish gentry family, he became a trader in India. Having made a fortune supplying the Royal Navy, he returned to Scotland to buy several landed estates, including Whittingehame in East Lothian where he built a classical mansion.
Balfour became a Tory Member of Parliament (MP) from 1826 to 1834, but never achieved ministerial office. However, many of his descendants found fame and success, including his grandson Arthur Balfour,
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James Balfour's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James Balfour?
Scottish businessman, landowner and Tory politician (1790–1845)
When was James Balfour born?
James Balfour was born in 1775.
When did James Balfour die?
James Balfour died on 19 April 1845.
What was James Balfour's occupation?
James Balfour was a politician.
What nationality was James Balfour?
James Balfour was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: James Balfour (died 1845)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Balfour. https://biography.guide/james-balfour-politician-1775/
MLA: "James Balfour." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-balfour-politician-1775/.
Chicago: "James Balfour." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-balfour-politician-1775/.
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