Arthur james balfour biography for kids

Arthur Balfour

Prime Minister of the In partnership Kingdom from 1902 to 1905

This article is about the statesman. For the steel manufacturer, inspect Arthur Balfour, 1st Baron Riverdale.

"Lord Balfour" redirects here. For conquer peers known by this honour, see Baron Balfour of Glenawley, Baron Balfour of Inchrye, Marquis of Balfour, and Lord Statesman of Burleigh.

Arthur James Balfour, Ordinal Earl of Balfour (;[1] 25 July 1848 – 19 March 1930) was a British statesman and Right-wing politician who was Prime Clergywoman of the United Kingdom steer clear of 1902 to 1905.

As imported secretary in the Lloyd Martyr ministry, he issued the Statesman Declaration of 1917 on sake of the cabinet, which slender a "home for the Someone people" in Palestine.[2]

Entering Parliament redraft 1874, Balfour achieved prominence since Chief Secretary for Ireland, expect which position he suppressed countrified unrest whilst taking measures be realistic absentee landlords.

He opposed Green Home Rule, saying there could be no half-way house among Ireland remaining within the Leagued Kingdom or becoming independent. Breakout 1891 he led the Rightist Party in the House forged Commons, serving under his enchase, Lord Salisbury, whose government won large majorities in 1895 pointer 1900.

An esteemed debater, filth was bored by the carnal tasks of party management.

In July 1902, he succeeded rule uncle as prime minister. Accomplish domestic policy he passed rank Land Purchase (Ireland) Act 1903, which bought out most show consideration for the Anglo-Irish landowners. The Rearing Act 1902 had a larger long-term impact in modernising greatness school system in England gift Wales and provided financial found for schools operated by excellence Church of England and unresponsive to the Catholic Church.

Nonconformists were outraged and mobilised their voters, but were unable to inverted it. In foreign and shield policy, he oversaw reform carp British defence policy and verified Jackie Fisher's naval innovations. Lighten up secured the Entente Cordiale region France, an agreement that smooth the way for improved help between the two states extra their predecessors.

He cautiously embraced imperial preference as championed by virtue of Joseph Chamberlain, but resignations unfamiliar the Cabinet over the withdrawal of free trade left consummate party divided. He also desirable from public anger at nobility later stages of the Boer War (counter-insurgency warfare characterised tempt "methods of barbarism") and say publicly importation of Chinese labour evaluate South Africa ("Chinese slavery").

Put your feet up resigned as prime minister remit December 1905 and the multitude month the Conservatives suffered uncomplicated landslide defeat at the 1906 election, in which he mislaid his own seat. He anon re-entered Parliament and continued restrain serve as Leader of dignity Opposition throughout the crisis glance at Lloyd George's 1909 budget, description narrow loss of two another General Elections in 1910, leading the passage of the Mother of parliaments Act 1911.

He resigned chimp party leader in 1911.

Balfour returned as First Lord selected the Admiralty in Asquith's Organization Government (1915–1916). In December 1916, he became foreign secretary bolster David Lloyd George's coalition. Do something was frequently left out obey the inner workings of overseas policy, although the Balfour Assertion on a Jewish homeland perforate his name.

He continued add up to serve in senior positions all the time the 1920s, and died ready money 1930, aged 81, having bushed a vast inherited fortune. Misstep never married. Balfour trained monkey a philosopher – he originated an basis against believing that human realistic could determine truth – and was natural to as having a detached imagination to life, epitomised by spruce up remark attributed to him: "Nothing matters very much and infrequent things matter at all."

Background and early life

Arthur Balfour was born at Whittingehame House, Puff up Lothian, Scotland, the eldest rarity of James Maitland Balfour gift Lady Blanche Gascoyne-Cecil.

His daddy was a Scottish MP, though was his grandfather James; cap mother, a member of influence Cecil family descended from Parliamentarian Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, was the daughter of honourableness 2nd Marquess of Salisbury discipline his first wife, Mary Frances Gascoyne (born 1802; m. 1821; died 1839),[3] and she was a sister of the Tertiary Marquess, the future prime clergyman.

Arthur's godfather was the Aristocrat of Wellington, after whom do something was named.[5] He was representation eldest son, third of frivolous children, and had four brothers and three sisters. Arthur Solon was educated at Grange Preparative School at Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire (1859–1861), and Eton College (1861–1866), spin he studied with the careful master, William Johnson Cory.

Loosen up then went up to glory University of Cambridge, where bankruptcy read moral sciences at Triad College (1866–1869),[6] graduating with unblended second-class honours degree.[7] His onetime brother was the Cambridge embryologist Francis Maitland Balfour (1851–1882).[8]

Personal life

Balfour met May Lyttelton in 1870 when she was 19.

Rear 1 her two previous serious suitors had died, Balfour is uttered to have declared his attachment for her in December 1874. She died of typhus amount owing Palm Sunday, 21 March 1875; Balfour arranged for an emerald ring to be buried just right her coffin. Lavinia Talbot, May's older sister, believed that mar engagement had been imminent, on the other hand her recollections of Balfour's anguish (he was "staggered") were band written down until thirty later.[9]: 29–33 

Historian R.

J. Q. President points out that May's longhand discuss her love life come to terms with detail, but contain no proof that she was in passion with Balfour, nor that of course had spoken to her show consideration for marriage. He visited her exclusive once during her serious three-month illness, and was soon taking accedence social invitations again within graceful month of her death.

President suggests that, although he hawthorn simply have been too suspect to express his feelings openly, Balfour may also have pleased tales of his youthful ruination as a convenient cover preventable his disinclination to marry; rendering matter cannot be conclusively proven.[9]: 29–33 

In later years mediums claimed cheerfulness pass on messages from her – see the "Cross-Correspondences".[10][11]

Balfour remained a wombtotomb bachelor.

Margot Tennant (later Margot Asquith) wished to marry him, but Balfour said: "No, guarantee is not so. I relatively think of having a activity of my own."[5] His flat was maintained by his as well unmarried sister, Alice. In nucleus age, Balfour had a 40-year friendship with Mary Charteris (née Wyndham), Lady Elcho, later Aristocrat of Wemyss and March.[12]

Although call biographer writes that "it legal action difficult to say how afar the relationship went", her penmanship suggest they may have evolve into lovers in 1887 and could have engaged in sado-masochism,[9]: 47  systematic claim echoed by A.

Imaginary. Wilson.[11] Another biographer believes they had "no direct physical relationship", although he dismisses as "unlikely" suggestions that Balfour was sapphic, or, in view of organized time during the Boer Combat when he was seen though he replied to a attach while drying himself after circlet bath, Lord Beaverbrook's claim cruise he was "a hermaphrodite" whom no-one saw naked.[13]

Balfour was systematic leading member of the communal and intellectual group The Souls.

Early career

In 1874 Balfour was elected Conservative Member of Legislature (MP) for Hertford until 1885. From 1885 to 1906 sand served as the Member longed-for Parliament for Manchester East. Mosquito spring 1878, he became top secret secretary to his uncle Monarch Salisbury. He accompanied Salisbury (then Foreign Secretary) to the Coitus of Berlin and gained jurisdiction first experience in international statecraft in connection with the agreement of the Russo-Turkish conflict.

Unconscious the same time he became known in the world go letters; the academic subtlety instruction literary achievement of his Defence of Philosophic Doubt (1879) recommended he might make a position as a philosopher.[7]

Balfour divided sovereignty time between politics and lettered pursuits. Biographer Sydney Zebel not compulsory that Balfour continued to development an amateur or dabbler jacket public affairs, devoid of arrivisme and indifferent to policy issues.

However, in fact he indeed made a dramatic transition know a deeply involved politician. Her majesty assets, according to Zebel, deception a strong ambition that explicit kept hidden, shrewd political rise, a knack for negotiation, calligraphic taste for intrigue, and worry to avoid factionalism. Most approvingly, he deepened his close deposit with his uncle Lord Salisbury.

He also maintained cordial storekeeper business with Disraeli, Gladstone and block out national leaders.[15]: 27 

Released from his duties as private secretary by righteousness 1880 general election, he began to take more part pull off parliamentary affairs. He was add to a time politically associated narrow Lord Randolph Churchill, Sir h Drummond Wolff and John Gorst.

This quartet became known laugh the "Fourth Party" and gained notoriety for leader Lord Randolph Churchill's free criticism of Sir Stafford Northcote, Lord Cross bid other prominent members of dignity Conservative "old gang".[15]: 28–44 [16]

Service in Nobleman Salisbury's governments

Irish Secretary

In 1885, Monarch Salisbury appointed Balfour President a selection of the Local Government Board; interpretation following year he became Assistant for Scotland with a stool in the cabinet.[17] These part, while offering few opportunities stingy distinction, were an apprenticeship.

Generate early 1887, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, the Chief Secretary shield Ireland, resigned because of syndrome and Salisbury appointed his nephew in his place. The option was much criticised. It was received with contemptuous ridicule vulgar the Irish Nationalists, for no-one suspected Balfour's immense strength aristocratic will, his debating power, her highness ability in attack and government still greater capacity to ignore criticism.

Balfour surprised critics insensitive to ruthless enforcement of the Crimes Act. The Mitchelstown Massacre occurred on 9 September 1887, during the time that Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) brothers fired at a crowd differing against the conviction under dignity Act of MP William Writer and another man.[19] Three were killed by the RIC's battery.

When Balfour defended the RIC in the Commons, O'Brien baptized him "Bloody Balfour".[20] His unwavering administration did much to disperse his reputation as a state lightweight.[21]

In Parliament he resisted near to the Irish Parliamentary Understanding on Home Rule, which grace saw as an expression go superficial or false Irish love of one`s country.

Allied with Joseph Chamberlain's Open-hearted Unionists, he encouraged Unionist activism in Ireland. Balfour also helped the poor by creating justness Congested Districts Board for Eire in 1890. Balfour downplayed magnanimity factor of Irish nationalism, unfriendliness that the real issues were economic. Regarding ownership and win of the land, he ostensible that once violence was disguised and land was sold add up the tenants, Irish nationalism would no longer threaten the consistency of the United Kingdom.

Influence slogan "to kill home register with kindness" characterised Balfour's latest policy toward Ireland.[22] The Liberals had begun land sales say nice things about Irish tenants with the Country Law (Ireland) Act 1881 abstruse this was expanded by honourableness Conservatives in the land buy scheme of 1885.

However goodness depression in agriculture kept prices low. Balfour's solution was converge keep selling land and make happen 1887 lowering rents to uncertainty the lower prices, and conventual more tenants against eviction shy their landlords.[23] Balfour greatly swollen the land sales. They culminated in the final Unionist dirt purchase programme of 1903, what because Balfour was prime minister add-on George Wyndham was the Country secretary.

It encouraged landlords belong sell by means of unmixed 12% cash bonus. Tenants were encouraged to buy with unmixed low interest rate, and payments drawn out over 68 life-span. In 1909, Liberal legislation bind compulsory sales in certain cases. As the landlords sold executive, they relocated to Great Kingdom, giving up their political toughness in Ireland.

Tensions in distinction countryside dramatically declined as cruel 200,000 peasant proprietors owned take too lightly half the land in Hibernia. However, the Irish Parliamentary Organization recovered after its bitter post-Parnell split was healed and became the dominant political force touch a chord Ireland once again, eventually demand its position as Westminster kingmaker to secure the passage condemn a Home Rule Act while in the manner tha the Liberals returned to faculty.

This led in turn do as you are told the Home Rule crisis, authority formation of the Ulster Volunteers and Irish Volunteers, and practised period of growing nationalist alight unionist radicalisation that culminated joy the Easter rebellion of 1916 and the subsequent War own up Independence.[24][25]

Leadership roles

In 1886–1892 he became one of the most enterprising public speakers of the medium.

Impressive in matter rather overrun delivery, his speeches were specialized and convincing, and delighted break off ever-wider audience.

On the death wages W. H. Smith in 1891, Balfour became First Lord extent the Treasury – the last in Country history not to have bent concurrently prime minister as well – and Leader of the House model Commons.

After the fall pay no attention to the government in 1892 no problem spent three years in aspiring leader. When the Conservatives returned repeat power, in coalition with nobleness Liberal Unionists, in 1895, Statesman again became Leader of excellence House and First Lord cue the Treasury. His management be more or less the abortive education proposals competition 1896 showed a disinclination hold the drudgery of parliamentary control, yet he saw the text of a bill providing Eire with improved local government mess the Local Government (Ireland) In reality 1898 and joined in debates on foreign and domestic questions between 1895 and 1900.

During depiction illness of Lord Salisbury handset 1898, and again in Salisbury's absence abroad, Balfour was beginning charge of the Foreign Reign, and he conducted negotiations hint at Russia on the question have a high opinion of railways in North China.

Style a member of the cupboard responsible for the Transvaal trade in 1899, he bore diadem share of controversy and, considering that the Second Boer War began disastrously, he was first acquiescence realise the need to numerous the country's full military clarity.

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His leadership take possession of the House was marked antisocial firmness in the suppression endowment obstruction, yet there was put in order slight revival of the criticisms of 1896.

Prime minister

Further information: Statesman ministry

With Lord Salisbury's resignation persist in 11 July 1902, Balfour succeeded him as prime minister, revamp the approval of all greatness Unionist party.

The new first-class minister came into power basically at the same moment trade in the coronation of King Prince VII and Queen Alexandra flourishing the end of the Southward African War.[7] The Liberal squaring off was still disorganised over honourableness Boers.

In foreign affairs, Balfour shaft his foreign secretary, Lord Lansdowne, improved relations with France, first in the Entente Cordiale pay 1904.

The period also proverb the Russo-Japanese War, when Kingdom, an ally of the Nipponese, came close to war unwanted items Russia after the Dogger Aspect incident. On the whole, Statesman left the conduct of barbarous policy to Lansdowne, being industrious himself with domestic problems.[15]

Balfour, who had known Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann since 1906, opposed Country mistreatment of Jews and progressively supported Zionism as a plan for European Jews to install in Palestine.[27] However, in 1905 he supported the Aliens Reasonable 1905, one of whose chief objectives was to control allow restrict Jewish immigration from Easterly Europe.[28][29]

The budget was certain disruption show a surplus and duty could be remitted.

Yet tempt events proved, it was character budget that would sow dissent, override other legislative concerns favour signal a new political bad mood. Charles Thomson Ritchie's remission exhaustive the shilling import-duty on whisky led to Joseph Chamberlain's enterprise in favour of tariff swap. These were taxes on outside goods with trade preference subject to the Empire, to shield British industry from competition, bolster the Empire in the illustration of growing German and Earth economic power, and provide takings, other than raising taxes, merriment the social welfare legislation.

Importation the session proceeded, the take apart grew in the Unionist ranks. Tariff reform was popular appreciate Unionist supporters, but the menace of higher prices for sustenance imports made the policy book electoral albatross. Hoping to opening the difference between the unforced traders and tariff reformers pretend his cabinet and party, Statesman favoured retaliatory tariffs to castigate others who had tariffs bite the bullet the British, in the aspire of encouraging global free situation.

This was not sufficient provision either the free traders account the extreme tariff reformers hit government. With Balfour's agreement, Statesman resigned from the Cabinet injure late 1903 to campaign awaken tariff reform. At the harmonized time, Balfour tried to distraught the two factions by comprehension the resignation of three free-trading ministers, including Chancellor Ritchie, however the almost simultaneous resignation become aware of the free-trader Duke of Devonshire (who as Lord Hartington abstruse been the Liberal Unionist king of the 1880s) left Balfour's Cabinet weak.

By 1905 unusual Unionist MPs were still wash traders (Winston Churchill crossed next the Liberals in 1904 like that which threatened with deselection at Oldham), but Balfour's act had knackered his authority within the government.[15]

Balfour resigned as prime minister cut December 1905, hoping the Free leader Campbell-Bannerman would be impotent to form a strong control.

This was dashed when Campbell-Bannerman faced down an attempt ("The Relugas Compact") to "kick him upstairs" to the House stencil Lords. The Conservatives were downcast by the Liberals at picture general election the following Jan (in terms of MPs, regular Liberal landslide), with Balfour deprivation his seat at Manchester Suck in air to Thomas Gardner Horridge, boss solicitor and King's Counsel.

Inimitable 157 Conservatives were returned say nice things about the Commons, at least two-thirds followers of Chamberlain, who chaired the Conservative MPs until Statesman won a by-election for great safe seat in the Expertise of London.

Achievements

According to historian Parliamentarian Ensor, Balfour can be credited with achievement in five greater areas:[31]: 355 

  1. The Education Act 1902 (and a similar measure for Writer in 1903);[32]
  2. The Land Purchase (Ireland) Act 1903, which bought continue the Anglo-Irish landowners;[33][34]
  3. The Licensing Depress 1904;[35]
  4. In military policy, the production of the Committee of Regal Defence (1904) and support comply with Sir John Fisher's naval reforms.
  5. In foreign policy, the Anglo-French Firm (1904), which formed the heart of the Entente Cordiale reliable France.

The Education Act lasted two decades and eventually was immensely praised.

Eugene Rasor states, "Balfour was credited and much famous from many perspectives with authority success [of the 1902 edification act]. His commitment to tutelage was fundamental and strong."[36]: 20  Scoff at the time it hurt Solon because the Liberal party lax it to rally their Noncomformist supporters.

Ensor said the Putting to death ranked:

among the two diversity three greatest constructive measures virtuous the twentieth century....[He did war cry write it] but no scholar less dominated than Balfour was by the concept of safe efficiency would have taken tingle up and carried it rebuke, since its cost on decency side of votes was perceptible and deterrent....Public money was for this reason made available for the precede time to ensure properly compensated teachers and a standardised smooth of efficiency for all race alike [including the Anglican distinguished Catholic schools].[31]: 355–56 

For most of rendering 19th century, the very robust political and economic position pray to the Church of Ireland (Anglican) landowners opposed the political pretence of Irish nationalists.

Balfour's improve was to buy them slick, not by compulsion, but manage without offering the owners a filled immediate payment and a 12% bonus on the sales cost. The British government purchased 13 million acres (53,000 km2) harsh 1920, and sold farms in the vicinity of the tenants at low payments spread over seven decades. Dash would cost money, but go into battle sides proved amenable.[31]: 358–60  Starting contain 1923 the Irish government money-grubbing out most of the surviving landowners, and in 1933 entertained payments being made to position British treasury and used them for local improvements.[37]

Balfour's introduction slap Chinese coolie labour in Southern Africa enabled the Liberals interrupt counterattack, charging that his compound amounted to "Chinese slavery".[31]: 355, 376–78 [38] Likerwise Liberals energised the Nonconformists as they attacked Balfour's Licensing Time 1904 which paid pub owners to close down.

In honesty long run it did engage the great oversupply of pubs, while in the short litigation Balfour's party was hurt.[31]: 360–61 

Balfour futile to solve his greatest administrative challenge – the debate over tariffs zigzag ripped his party apart. Solon proposed to turn the Control into a closed trade caucus protected by high tariffs bite the bullet imports from Germany and ethics United States.

He argued defer tariff reform would revive cool flagging British economy, strengthen dignified ties with the dominions take the colonies, and produce span positive programme that would be of assistance reelection. He was vehemently loath by Conservative free traders who denounced the proposal as economically fallacious, and open to illustriousness charge of raising food prices in Britain.

Balfour tried stamp out forestall disruption by removing cardinal ministers on each side, endure offering a much narrower assessment programme. It was ingenious, nevertheless both sides rejected any go fifty-fifty, and his party's chances endorse reelection were ruined.[39][40]: 4–6 

Historians generally legend Balfour's achievements in military status foreign policy.

Cannon & Crowcroft 2015 stress the importance clasp the Anglo-French Entente of 1904, and the establishment of probity Committee of Imperial Defence. Rasor points to twelve historians who have examined his key part in naval and military reforms.[36]: 39–40 [31]: 361–71  However, there was little public payback at the time.

Authority local Conservative campaigns in 1906 focused mostly on a juicy domestic issues.[42] Balfour gave robust support for Jackie Fisher's marine reforms.[43]

Balfour created and chaired leadership Committee of Imperial Defence, which provided better long-term coordinated thinking between the Army and Navy.[44]Austen Chamberlain said Britain would maintain been unprepared for the Twig World War without his Panel of Imperial Defence.

He wrote, "It is impossible to assess too highly the services thus rendered stomach-turning Balfour to the Country near Empire....[Without the CID] victory would have been impossible."[45] Historians additionally praised the Anglo-French Convention (1904), which formed the basis lacking the Entente Cordiale with Author that proved decisive in 1914.[46]

Balfour may have been personally kind to extending suffrage, with surmount brother Gerald, Conservative MP aspire Leeds Central married to women's suffrage activist Constance Lytton's wet-nurse Betty,[47] but he accepted high-mindedness strength of the political comparison to women's suffrage, as shown in correspondence with Christabel Pankhurst, a leader of the WSPU.

Balfour argued that he was "not convinced the majority closing stages women actually wanted the vote", in 1907. A rebuttal which meant extending the activist action for women's rights.[47] He was reminded by Lytton of expert speech he made in 1892, namely that this question "will arise again, menacing and fully grown for resolution", she asked him to meet WSPU leader, Christabel Pankhurst, after a series have a high regard for hunger strikes and suffering hunk imprisoned suffragettes in 1907.

Solon refused on the grounds unbutton her militancy.[47] Christabel pleaded straight to meet Balfour as Right-wing party leader, on their practice manifesto for the General Plebiscite of 1909,[dubious – discuss] but fair enough refused again as women's voting rights was "not a party painstakingly and his colleagues were separate disconnected on the matter".[47] She welltried and failed again to realize his open support in council for women's cause in illustriousness 1910 private member's Conciliation Bill.[47] He voted for the tally in the end but moan for its progress to ethics Grand Committee, preventing it attractive law, and extending the existing campaigns as a result again.[47] The following year Lytton trip Annie Kenney in person afterward another reading of the Fee, but again it was beg for prioritised as government business.[47] Top sister-in-law Lady Betty Balfour rundle to Churchill that her kin was to speak for that policy, and also met integrity Prime Minister, H.H.

Asquith interpose a 1911 delegation of leadership women's movements representing the Die-hard and Unionist Women's Franchise Association[47] but it was not till such time as 1918 that (some) women were given the right to ballot in elections in the Pooled Kingdom, despite a forty-year campaign.[47]

Later career

After the general election invite 1906 Balfour remained party superior, his position strengthened by Patriarch Chamberlain's absence from the Council house of Commons after his tap in July 1906, but inaccuracy was unable to make unwarranted headway against the huge Bountiful majority in the Commons.

Key early attempt to score a- debating triumph over the create, made in Balfour's usual dark, theoretical style, saw Campbell-Bannerman occur at once with: "Enough of this foolery," to the delight of her majesty supporters. Balfour made the moot decision, with Lord Lansdowne, dare use the heavily Unionist Deal with of Lords as a frustrate on the political programme tube legislation of the Liberal bracket together in the Commons.

Legislation was vetoed or altered by amendments between 1906 and 1909, outdo David Lloyd George to claim that the Lords was "the right hon. Gentleman's poodle. Loaded fetches and carries for him. It barks for him. Accomplished bites anybody that he sets it on to. And awe are told that this report a great revising Chamber, character safeguard of liberty in interpretation country."[48] The issue was laboured by the Liberals with Actor George's People's Budget, provoking significance constitutional crisis that led register the Parliament Act 1911, which limited the Lords to uncooperative bills for up to glimmer years.

After the Unionists strayed the general elections of 1910 (despite softening the tariff rectify policy with Balfour's promise imbursement a referendum on food taxes), the Unionist peers split simulate allow the Parliament Act chance on pass the House of Nobility, to prevent mass creation fail Liberal peers by the unique King, George V. The worn out Balfour resigned as party emperor after the crisis, and was succeeded in late 1911 strong Bonar Law.[15]

Balfour remained important constrict the party, however, and conj at the time that the Unionists joined Asquith's merger government in May 1915, Solon succeeded Churchill as First Sovereign of the Admiralty.

When Asquith's government collapsed in December 1916, Balfour, who seemed a likely successor to the premiership, became foreign secretary in Lloyd George's new administration, but not suspend the small War Cabinet, ahead was frequently left out loosen inner workings of government. Balfour's service as foreign secretary was notable for the Balfour Give, a crucial alliance-building visit tell somebody to the US in April 1917, and the Balfour Declaration state under oath 1917, a letter to Sovereign Rothschild affirming the government's backing for the establishment of cool "national home for the Somebody people" in Palestine, then do too quickly of the Ottoman Empire.[49]

Balfour hopeless as foreign secretary following righteousness Versailles Conference in 1919, nevertheless continued in the government (and the Cabinet after normal serenity political arrangements resumed) as Sovereign President of the Council.

Undecided 1921–22 he represented the Country Empire at the Washington Marine Conference and during summer 1922 stood in for the overseas secretary, Lord Curzon, who was ill. He put forward a-okay proposal for the international outpost of war debts and impunity (the Balfour Note), but gifted was not accepted.[15]

On 5 Could 1922, Balfour was created Lord of Balfour and Viscount Traprain, of Whittingehame, in the colony of Haddington.[50] In October 1922 he, with most of distinction Conservative leadership, resigned with Thespian George's government following the Carlton Club meeting, a Conservative back-bench revolt against continuance of leadership coalition.

Bonar Law became top minister. Like many Coalition leading, he did not hold period of influence in the Conservative governments finance 1922–1924, but as an preeminent statesman, he was consulted insensitive to the King in the patronizing of Stanley Baldwin as Bonar Law's successor as Conservative head of state in May 1923. His support was strongly in favour inducing Baldwin, ostensibly due to Baldwin's being an MP but assume reality motivated by his outoftheway dislike of Curzon.

Later deviate evening, he met a interactive friend who asked 'Will adored George be chosen?' to which he replied with "feline Balfourian satisfaction," "No, dear George last wishes not." His hostess replied, "Oh, I am so sorry ballot vote hear that. He will achieve terribly disappointed." Balfour retorted, "Oh, I don't know.

After flurry, even if he has departed the hope of glory without fear still possesses the means confess Grace."[51]

Balfour was not initially be part of the cause in Baldwin's second government deduce 1924, but in 1925, crystalclear returned to the Cabinet, name place of the late Ruler Curzon as Lord President match the Council, until the authority ended in 1929.

With 28 years of government service, Solon had one of the best ministerial careers in modern Island politics, second only to Winston Churchill.[52]

Last years

Lord Balfour had as is usual good health until 1928 extort remained until then a general tennis player. Four years at one time he had been the crowning president of the International Steal Tennis Club of Great Kingdom.

At the end of 1928, most of his teeth were removed and he suffered loftiness unremitting circulatory trouble which over his life. Before that, take steps had suffered occasional phlebitis extort, by late 1929, he was immobilised by it. Following topping visit from Chaim Weizmann, Solon died at his brother Gerald's home, Fishers Hill House incline Hook Heath, Woking, where illegal had lived since January 1929, on 19 March 1930.

Shakeup his request a public interment was declined, and he was buried on 22 March next to members of his family learn Whittingehame in a Church have a high regard for Scotland service although he further belonged to the Church find time for England. By special remainder, reward title passed to his religious Gerald.[53]

His obituaries in The Times, The Guardian and the Daily Herald did not mention honesty declaration for which he enquiry most famous outside Britain.[54]

Personality

Early complicated Balfour's career he was tending to be merely amusing yourself with politics, and it was regarded as doubtful whether top health could withstand the hardness of English winters.

He was considered a dilettante by potentate colleagues; regardless, Lord Salisbury gave increasingly powerful posts in wreath government to his nephew.

Beatrice Writer wrote in her diary:

A man of extraordinary grace nominate mind and body, delighting carry all that is beautiful survive distinguished––music, literature, philosophy, religious mouthful of air and moral disinterestedness, aloof elude all the greed and glaring of common human nature.

On the contrary a strange paradox as Quality Minister of a great empire! I doubt whether even outlandish affairs interest him. For rim economic and social questions Unrestrained gather he has an blend loathing, while the machinery hillock government and administration would have all the hallmarks to him a disagreeable irrelevance.[55]

Balfour developed a manner known in close proximity to friends as the Balfourian manner.

Harold Begbie, a journalist, pompous him for what Begbie held Balfour's self-obsession:

This Balfourian manner...an attitude of mind—an attitude magnetize convinced superiority which insists go to see the first place on finale detachment from the enthusiasms work the human race, and hill the second place on interest the vulgar world at arm's length....To Mr.

Arthur Balfour that studied attitude of aloofness has been fatal, both to top character and to his calling. He has said nothing, intended nothing, done nothing, which lives in the heart of sovereign countrymen....the charming, gracious, and highbrow Mr. Balfour is the uppermost egotistical of men, and marvellous man who would make virtually any sacrifice to remain tutor in office.[56]

However, Graham Goodlad argued surrounding the contrary:

Balfour's air aristocratic detachment was a pose.

Purify was sincere in his compactness, mistrusting radical political and collective change and believing deeply fell the Union with Ireland, righteousness Empire and the superiority execute the British race....Those who fired him as a languid trifler were wide of the point. As Chief Secretary for Island from 1887 to 1891 closure manifested an unflinching commitment come close to the maintenance of British faculty in the face of well-liked protest.

He combined a pungent emphasis on law and reform with measures aimed at reforming the landowning system and doing well Ireland's backward rural economy.[39]

Churchill compared Balfour to H. H. Asquith: "The difference between Balfour put up with Asquith is that Arthur level-headed wicked and moral, while Asquith is good and immoral." Statesman said of himself, "I think more or less happy what because being praised, not very loaded when being abused, but Comical have moments of uneasiness as being explained."[57]

Balfour was interested prickly the study of dialects bracket donated money to Joseph Wright's work on The English Speech pattern Dictionary.

Wright wrote in greatness preface to the first notebook that the project would be endowed with been "in vain" had grace not received the donation do too much Balfour.[58]

Balfour was into the Decade a keen player both walk up to lawn tennis and of sport. In the latter sport, inaccuracy had a handicap of point at the time he was prime minister, he won say publicly Parliamentary Handicap between members entrap parliament in 1894, 1897 gift 1910, and served as skipper both of The Royal become more intense Ancient Golf Club of Align Andrews in 1894 and integrity newly founded Lye club fence in 1895.[59] Balfour was a benefactor of Manchester City F.C.[60] Earth was also a keen automobilist and received, as an Eighty birthday present, a Rolls-Royce foreigner both Houses of Parliament.[53]

Writings folk tale academic achievements

As a philosopher, Solon formulated the basis for depiction evolutionary argument against naturalism.

Solon argued the Darwinian premise be unable to find selection for reproductive fitness depressed doubt on scientific naturalism, by reason of human cognitive facilities that would accurately perceive truth could rectify less advantageous than adaptation appearance evolutionarily useful illusions.[61]

As he says:

[There is] no distinction limit be drawn between the process of reason and that pray to any other faculty, physiological correspond to psychical, by which the interests of the individual or prestige race are promoted.

From authority humblest form of nervous emphasize at the one end sight the scale, to the route capacity of the most late races at the other, allay without exception (sensation, instinct, want, volition) has been produced immediately or indirectly, by natural causes acting for the most undermine on strictly utilitarian principles. Profit, not knowledge, therefore, has bent the main end to which this process has tended.

— Arthur Balfour

He was a member of honesty Society for Psychical Research, unembellished society studying psychic and worrying phenomena, and was its concert-master from 1892 to 1894.[63] Run to ground 1914, he delivered the Gifford Lectures at the University indifference Glasgow,[64] which formed the rationale for his book Theism remarkable Humanism (1915).[65]

Views on race

In 1906, during a House of Diet debate, Balfour argued that illustriousness disenfranchisement of the blacks prickly South Africa was not wicked.

He said:[66]

We have to example the facts. Men are war cry born equal, the white skull black races are not resident with equal capacities: they trim born with different capacities which education cannot and will call for change.

Political scholar Yousef Munayyer has claimed that Arthur Balfour's antisemitism played a role in picture issuance of the Balfour Testimonial, citing Balfour's presiding over, trade in prime minister, the passage intelligent the Aliens Act 1905 delay mainly aimed to restrict Individual immigration to Britain from Get one\'s bearings Europe.[66] Balfour had written divert 1919, in his introduction shape Nahum Sokolow's History of Zionism, that the Zionist movement would:[67]

mitigate the age-long miseries created backing Western civilization by the manifestation in its midst of keen Body [the Jews] which directness too long regarded as strange and even hostile, but which it was equally unable protect expel or to absorb.

Artistic

After honourableness First World War, when about was controversy over the deal of headstone proposed for cry off on British war graves seem to be taken on by the Princelike War Graves Commission, Balfour submitted a design for a cruciate headstone.[68] At an exhibition cut August 1919, it drew assorted criticisms; the commission's principal founder, Sir John Burnet said dump Balfour's cross, if used plug large numbers in cemeteries, would create a criss-cross visual shouting match, destroying any sense of "restful diginity"; Edwin Lutyens called stream "extraordinarily ugly", and its athletic was variously described as homogenous a shooting target or bottle.[68] His design was not habitual but the Commission offered him a second chance to indict another design which he upfront not take up, having back number refused once.[68]: 49  After a just starting out exhibition in the House take in Commons, the "Balfour cross" was ultimately rejected in favour use your indicators the standard headstone the Authorization permanently adopted because the plaster offered more space for inscriptions and service emblems.[68]: 50 

Popular culture

Balfour scarcely ever appears in popular culture.[36]

  • Balfour was the subject of two displace novels based on Alice live in Wonderland, Clara in Blunderland (1902) and Lost in Blunderland (1903), which appeared under the nom de guerre Caroline Lewis; one of dignity co-authors was Harold Begbie.[69][70]
  • The cost Arthur Balfour plays a aspect, off-screen role in Upstairs, Downstairs, promoting the family patriarch, Richard Bellamy, to the position assert Civil Lord of the Admiralty.
  • Balfour was portrayed by Adrian Controls in the 1974 Thames Box production Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill.
  • Balfour was portrayed by Lyndon Stream in the 1975 ATV control Edward the Seventh.
  • A fictionalised anecdote of Arthur Balfour (identified considerably "Mr.

    Balfour") appears as Island prime minister in the information fiction romance The Angel forestall the Revolution by George Filmmaker, published in 1893 (when Statesman was still in opposition) on the other hand set in an imagined nigh on future of 1903–1905.

  • The indecisive Statesman (identified as "Halfan Halfour") appears in "Ministers of Grace", smashing satirical short story by Alcohol in which he, and further leading politicians including Quinston, verify changed into animals appropriate amplify their characters.

Legacy

Balfour's premiership from July 1902 to December 1905 practical unusual among modern prime ministers because it did not stamp the culmination of his public career.

Instead, it was at bottom an episode in a grovel life of public service, near he quickly recovered from interpretation setbacks of his chequered premiership. He continued to serve crucial government for nearly a division of a century after termination 10 Downing Street, despite glance forced from the leadership look up to his party.[71]

Balfour's reputation among historians is mixed.

There is on its own merits about his achievements, as pretended by G. M. Trevelyan:

As the prime author of loftiness Education Act, the Licensing Ill-use, Irish Land Purchase and depiction Committee of Imperial Defence, Solon has a strong claim total be numbered among the happen as expected Prime Ministers.[72]

But Trevelyan admits go, "owing to the portentous division of the electoral catastrophe break into 1906 that claim is howl always been allowed; yet Statesman had done great things have his own initiative and past as a consequence o his own strength of character."[73] John L.

Gordon pays bonus attention to the defeats take action suffered, stating:

Although Balfour's achievements during his brief prime religion are noteworthy... he is as a rule seen as an ineffective director. He was unable to cast down a split in his slight over trade policy, and illustriousness Unionist-Conservatives suffered a massive get the better of in the election of Jan 1906.

Failing to lead top party to victory in rectitude two general elections of 1910, he resigned as leader groove 1911.[74]

Memorials

Balfouria, a moshav in union Israel, along with many streets in Israel, are named sustenance him. The town of Solon in Mpumalanga, South Africa, was named after him.[75]

A portrait hold Balfour by Philip de László is in the collection attention to detail Trinity College, Cambridge.[76] The 1914 portrait was vandalised (sprayed make contact with red paint and slashed) outdo an activist of the Canaan Action network during the 2023-24 Israel-Hamas war.[77][78]

The Lord Balfour Motel, an Art Deco hotel insincere Ocean Drive in the Southerly Beach neighbourhood of Miami Strand, Florida, is named after him.

Honours and decorations

  • His appointment similarly a Deputy Lieutenant of Ross-shire on 10 September 1880 gave him the post-nominal letters "DL".[79]
  • He was sworn of the Private Council of the United Realm in 1885, giving him character style "The Right Honourable" advocate after ennoblement the post-nominal copy "PC" for life.[80]
  • On 3 June 1916 he was appointed deal with the Order of Merit, loud him the post-nominal letters "OM" for life.[81]
  • He was elected create International Honorary Member of integrity American Academy of Arts humbling Sciences in 1902 and titanic International Member of the English Philosophical Society in 1917.[82][83]
  • In 1919 he was elected Chancellor look after his old university, Cambridge, draw out succession to his brother-in-law, Sovereign Rayleigh.
  • He was made a Chessman Companion of the Order motionless the Garter on 3 Advance 1922, becoming Sir Arthur Statesman and giving him the post-nominal letters "KG" for life.[84]
  • On 5 May 1922 Balfour was curving to the peerage as Peer of Balfour and Viscount Traprain, of Whittingehame, in the dependency of Haddington.

    This allowed him to sit in the Dwellingplace of Lords.[85]

  • He was awarded significance Estonian Cross of Liberty (conferred between 1919 and 1925), tertiary grade, first class, for Neutral Service.

He was given the Release of the City/Freedom of description Borough of the following:

Honorary degrees

See also