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Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour

1902 – 1968

British noble

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About Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour

Lived 1902 – 1968 (aged 65). Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour was a British military personnel and politician.

Robert Arthur Lytton Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour (31 December 1902 – 28 November 1968), styled Viscount Traprain between 1930 and 1945, was a Scottish peer.

Biography Balfour was the son of Gerald Balfour, a Member of Parliament, and his wife Lady Elizabeth Balfour (née Bulwer-Lytton), a daughter of the 1st Earl of Lytton. He was the nephew of Prime Minister Arthur Balfour, and his father succeeded as Earl of Balfour in 1930. Robert was born on 31 December 1902 at his parent′s residence Fishers Hill House, Hook Heath, Woking, and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the Royal Naval Reserve and fought in the Second World War.

On 12 February 1925, he married Jean Lily West Roundel Cooke-Yarborough (1900–1981). They had four children:

Gerald Arthur James Balfour, 4th Earl of Balfour (1925–2003) Lady Evelyn Jean Blanche Balfour (1929–2011) Lady Alison Emily Balfour (1934–2015) Hon. Andrew Maitland Balfour (1936–1948)

From 1952 to 1954, he chaired the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs, which as a result is also referred to as the Balfour Commission.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Eton College, Trinity College, Cambridge
Positions held
Member of the House of Lords

Family & relationships

Child
Gerald Balfour, 4th Earl of Balfour
Parent
Gerald Balfour, 2nd Earl of Balfour
Parent
Lady Betty Bulwer-Lytton

People in Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour?

British noble (1902-1968)

When was Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour born?

Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour was born on 31 December 1902.

When did Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour die?

Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour died on 28 November 1968.

What was Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour's occupation?

Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour was a military personnel and politician.

What nationality was Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour?

Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour

· Wikidata: Q7341832

· DBpedia: Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour. https://biography.guide/robert-balfour-3rd-earl-of-balfour/

MLA: "Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-balfour-3rd-earl-of-balfour/.

Chicago: "Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-balfour-3rd-earl-of-balfour/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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