Balfour facts for kids

Balfour is a name that can refer to many different things, from important people in history to places around the world. It's a name with a rich past, especially linked to a famous Scottish family.

Who Are the Balfours?

The name Balfour comes from a Scottish family. Over time, many people with this name have become well-known.

Arthur Balfour: A Prime Minister

One of the most famous people named Balfour was Arthur James Balfour (1848–1930). He was a very important politician in the United Kingdom. He served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905. Being a Prime Minister means he was the head of the government, making big decisions for the country.

Arthur Balfour was also known for something called the Balfour Declaration of 1917. This was a public statement made in 1917 during World War I. It was a letter from the British government that supported the idea of creating a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. This declaration became a very important document in history.

Other Notable Balfours

Arthur Balfour had a brother named Gerald Balfour, 2nd Earl of Balfour (1853–1945). He was also a British politician. Another interesting person was Sir Graham Balfour (1858–1929), who was a statistician. He worked closely with Florence Nightingale, a famous nurse.

Places Named Balfour

Many places around the world have been named Balfour, often after people from the Balfour family or because of their influence.

Balfour in Canada

In Canada, you can find Balfour, British Columbia. It's a small community located on the shores of Kootenay Lake. There's also Rayside-Balfour, Ontario, which is part of a larger city.

Balfour in New Zealand

New Zealand has a town called Balfour, New Zealand. It's a small farming community in the Southland region. There's also a Balfour River in the country.

Balfour in Scotland

Since the Balfour family is Scottish, it's no surprise there are places named Balfour in Scotland. These include Balfour, Aberdeenshire and Balfour, Orkney. You can also find Balfour Castle on the Orkney Islands, which is a historic building.

Balfour in South Africa

In South Africa, there are two towns named Balfour. One is Balfour, Eastern Cape, and the other is Balfour, Mpumalanga.

Balfour in the United States

The United States also has places named Balfour. These include Balfour, North Dakota and Balfour, North Carolina.

Ships Named Balfour

Sometimes, ships are named after important people or places. One ship named Balfour was HMS Balfour (K464). This was a warship that served in the Royal Navy.

Other Important Balfour Connections

Besides the 1917 declaration, there was also the Balfour Declaration of 1926. This was another important document that defined the relationship between Britain and its self-governing Dominions (like Canada and Australia). It stated that they were equal in status and not subordinate to each other.