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Robert Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour facts for kids

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The Earl of Balfour
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
In office
14 January 1945 – 28 November 1968
as a hereditary peer
Preceded by The 2nd Earl of Balfour
Succeeded by The 4th Earl of Balfour
Personal details
Born 31 December 1902
Fishers Hill House, Hook Heath, Woking
Died 28 November 1968(1968-11-28) (aged 65)
Spouse
Jean Lily West Roundel Cooke-Yarborough
(m. 1925)
Children 4, including Gerald Balfour, 4th Earl of Balfour
Parents Gerald Balfour, 2nd Earl of Balfour
Lady Betty Bulwer-Lytton
Alma mater Trinity College, Cambridge

Robert Arthur Lytton Balfour, 3rd Earl of Balfour (born December 31, 1902 – died November 28, 1968) was an important Scottish noble. He was known as Viscount Traprain from 1930 until 1945. This was a special title he used before he became the Earl of Balfour.

Who Was Robert Balfour?

Robert Balfour was a member of a very well-known family. His father, Gerald Balfour, was also a politician. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Balfour. She was the daughter of the first Earl of Lytton.

Robert was also the nephew of Arthur Balfour, who was a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This means politics and public service ran in his family.

Early Life and Education

Robert Balfour was born on December 31, 1902. His family home was Fishers Hill House in Woking. He went to two famous schools.

First, he studied at Eton. This is a very old and respected school in England. After Eton, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge. This is one of the top universities in the world.

Military Service and Family

Robert Balfour joined the Royal Naval Reserve. This is a part of the navy for people who serve part-time. He became a Lieutenant. He also fought in the Second World War, which was a huge global conflict.

In 1925, Robert married Jean Lily West Roundel Cooke-Yarborough. They had four children together. Their children were:

  • Gerald Arthur James Balfour, 4th Earl of Balfour (1925–2003)
  • Lady Evelyn Jean Blanche Balfour (born 1929)
  • Lady Alison Emily Balfour (born 1934)
  • Hon. Andrew Maitland Balfour (1936–1948)

Important Work: The Balfour Commission

Robert Balfour was involved in important public work. From 1952 to 1954, he led a special group. This group was called the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs.

A "Royal Commission" is a group of experts. They are asked by the government to study a big issue. This commission looked at important matters for Scotland. Because Robert Balfour led it, it is often called the Balfour Commission.

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