Lord Balfour of Burleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lordship of Balfour of Burleigh |
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Quarterly, 1st & 4th: Argent, on a chevron sable, an otter's head erased of the first (Balfour of that Ilk); 2nd & 3rd: Or, a saltire and a chief gules, the latter charged with a mullet argent (Bruce)
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| Creation date | 16 July 1607 |
| Monarch | James VI |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
| First holder | Sir Michael Balfour |
| Present holder | Victoria Bruce-Winkler, 9th Lady Balfour of Burleigh |
| Heir presumptive | Hon. Laetitia Bruce-Winkler, Mistress of Burleigh |
| Remainder to | Heirs general |
| Subsidiary titles | Master of Burleigh |
| Seat(s) | Brucefield House |
| Former seat(s) | Burleigh Castle |
| Motto | Balfour: Omne solum forti patria ("Every country is a brave man's homeland") Bruce: Fuimus ("We have been) |
The Lordship of Balfour of Burleigh is a special title in Scotland. It was created in 1607 by King James VI for Sir Michael Balfour. This title is part of the Peerage of Scotland, which is a group of noble titles from Scotland.
Contents
The Lords Balfour of Burleigh: A Scottish Title
Early History and Key Figures
Sir Michael Balfour was the first person to hold this title. When he passed away, his daughter, Margaret, became the next Lady Balfour of Burleigh. This was unusual because titles often went to sons. Margaret married Robert Arnot, who then took the Balfour name. He also became known as Lord Balfour of Burleigh because of his wife's title.
Their son, the third Lord, was named John. He was involved in important historical events. He fought with the Covenanters, a group of Scottish Presbyterians, at the Battle of Drumclog. This battle was part of a conflict over religious freedom in Scotland.
A Challenging Time: The Fifth Lord
The fifth Lord, Robert Balfour, faced many difficulties. In 1709, he was found responsible for the death of a schoolmaster. He was sentenced to death in 1710. However, he managed to escape from prison by wearing his sister's clothes!
He was mostly known as the "Master of Burleigh." This was the title given to the person expected to inherit the peerage. He never officially took his seat in Parliament. Later, in 1715, he joined the Jacobite rebellion. This was a movement to bring the Stuart family back to the throne. Because of his role, his title was taken away by the government. He passed away in 1757 without any children.
The Succession Story: Who Inherits the Title?
The original document that created the title, called a charter, didn't clearly state who would inherit it. For a long time, the title was not officially held by anyone.
Later, a man named Robert Bruce believed he should be the next Lord Balfour of Burleigh. Another family member, Walter Francis Balfour, disagreed. He thought he was the rightful heir. The case went to the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament.
The Bruce Family Takes Over
In 1868, the House of Lords decided that the title should pass to "heirs general." This meant it could be inherited by daughters as well as sons, just like when Margaret inherited it. The government also reversed the decision to take away the title in 1869. This meant the title was officially restored.
Since 1869, the title has been held by the Bruce family. Alexander Hugh Bruce, the great-great-grandson of the fourth Lord's daughter, became the sixth Lord. He was a Conservative politician. He served in the House of Lords as a Scottish Representative Peer for many years. He was also the Secretary of State for Scotland from 1895 to 1903.
His second son, George, became the seventh Lord. He also served as a Scottish Representative Peer. The current holder of the title is Victoria Bruce-Winkler, 9th Lady Balfour of Burleigh. She became the ninth Lady in 2019.
Another important person from the Balfour family was James Balfour, 1st Baron Balfour of Glenawley. He was the younger brother of the first Lord Balfour of Burleigh.
Where the Family Lived
The main home of the Balfour family is now Brucefield House, which is near Clackmannan. The original family home was Burleigh Castle, near Kinross. Today, Burleigh Castle is in ruins, but you can still visit it.
Who Held the Title?
Here is a list of the people who have held the title of Lord Balfour of Burleigh:
- Michael Balfour, 1st Lord Balfour of Burleigh (passed away 1619)
- Margaret Balfour, 2nd Lady Balfour of Burleigh (passed away 1639), married to Robert Balfour, 2nd Lord Balfour of Burleigh (passed away 1663)
- John Balfour, 3rd Lord Balfour of Burleigh (passed away 1688)
- Robert Balfour, 4th Lord Balfour of Burleigh (passed away 1713)
- Robert Balfour, 5th Lord Balfour of Burleigh (passed away 1757) (title taken away in 1715)
- People who would have inherited the title if it hadn't been taken away:
- Margaret Balfour (passed away 1769), sister of the 5th Lord
- Robert Bruce, Lord Kennet (1718–1785), nephew of Margaret
- Alexander Bruce (1755–1808), son of Robert
- Robert Bruce (1795–1864), son of Alexander
- Alexander Hugh Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh (1849–1921) (title restored in 1869)
- George John Gordon Bruce, 7th Lord Balfour of Burleigh (1883–1967)
- Robert Bruce, 8th Lord Balfour of Burleigh (1927–2019)
- Victoria Bruce-Winkler, 9th Lady Balfour of Burleigh (born 1973)
Present Day and Future Heirs
The person expected to inherit the title next is the current Lady's daughter. Her name is the Hon. Laetitia Bruce-Winkler, Mistress of Burleigh (born 2007).
See also
- Balgarvie Castle
