Earl of Balfour

Who is Earl of Balfour?

Earl of Balfour is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1922 for the prominent Conservative politician Arthur Balfour. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905 and Foreign Secretary from 1916 to 1919. The earldom was created with remainder failing male issue of his own 1 to his younger brother the Right Honourable Gerald William Balfour and the heirs male of his body, failing which to 2 his nephew Francis Cecil Campbell Balfour and the heirs male of his body, and failing which to 3 his nephew Oswald Herbert Campbell Balfour and the heirs male of his body. The latter two were the sons of his deceased youngest brother Colonel Eustace James Anthony Balfour. Balfour was made Viscount Traprain, of Whittingehame in the County of Haddington, at the same time as he was given the earldom. This title is also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and was created with similar remainder.

Balfour never married and was succeeded according to the special remainders by his younger brother Gerald, the second Earl. He was also a Conservative politician and notably served as Chief Secretary for Ireland, as President of the Board of Trade and as President of the Local Government Board. This line of the family failed on the death of his grandson, the fourth Earl, in 2003. He had four daughters but no sons and was succeeded by his second cousin once removed, the fifth Earl and present holder of the titles. He is the grandson of the aforementioned Francis Cecil Campbell Balfour, nephew of the first Earl.