James Balfour (died 1845)

James Balfour (c. 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,^[1] who served as prime minister from 1902 to 1905.

At his death, Balfour's estates in Scotland alone were estimated to be worth over £1 million^[2] (equivalent to £125 million in 2024^[3]).

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^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

[zebel-1] Cite error: The named reference zebel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[histparl-james-balfour-d1845-2] Cite error: The named reference histparl-james-balfour-d1845 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[inflation-UK-3] UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

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