Robert Balfour, 2nd Lord Balfour of Burleigh
Encyclopedia
Robert Balfour, 2nd Lord Balfour of Burleigh (died 1663), was a military commander.
Balfour was son of Sir Robert Arnot of Fernie
, chamberlain of Fife
. He married Margaret, daughter of Michael Balfour of Burleigh and Margaret, daughter of Lundie of Lundie, and his wife succeeded her father (who was created 7 Aug. 1606 Lord Balfour of Burleigh) as Baroness Balfour of Burleigh. Thereupon, by a letter from the king (James I
) Arnot became Lord Balfour of Burleigh, the second holder of the title. At the assembly of the Scottish parliament
in 1640 (11 June) the 'estates' appointed him their president. He was continued in the office in 1641, and was one of the commissioners for a treaty of peace with England
in 1640-1. He was also constituted of the privy council
'ad vitam aut culpam' by the parliament of Scotland 11 Nov. 1641. During the wars of Montrose he was energetic on the side of the government. He assumed military command, but was not successful. Montrose defeated him 12 Sept. 1644 near Aberdeen
, and again (with General Baillie) at Kilsyth
, 15 Aug. 1645. He was opposed to the celebrated and unfortunate 'engagement' to march into England for the rescue of the king. He had weight enough to dissuade Cromwell then from the invasion of Scotland. In 1649, under the act for putting 'the kingdom in a posture of defence,' he was one of the colonels for Fife. He was further nominated in the same year one of the commissioners of the treasury and exchequer. He died at Burleigh
, near Kinross
, 10 Aug. 1663. His wife died before him (in 1639). They had one son, John, third Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and four daughters.
Balfour was son of Sir Robert Arnot of Fernie
Fernie
-Places:*Fernie, British Columbia, a city in British Columbia, Canada*Mount Fernie, a mountain in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, Canada**Mount Fernie Provincial Park, a park on Mount Fernie...
, chamberlain of Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
. He married Margaret, daughter of Michael Balfour of Burleigh and Margaret, daughter of Lundie of Lundie, and his wife succeeded her father (who was created 7 Aug. 1606 Lord Balfour of Burleigh) as Baroness Balfour of Burleigh. Thereupon, by a letter from the king (James I
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
) Arnot became Lord Balfour of Burleigh, the second holder of the title. At the assembly of the Scottish parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
in 1640 (11 June) the 'estates' appointed him their president. He was continued in the office in 1641, and was one of the commissioners for a treaty of peace with England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1640-1. He was also constituted of the privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
'ad vitam aut culpam' by the parliament of Scotland 11 Nov. 1641. During the wars of Montrose he was energetic on the side of the government. He assumed military command, but was not successful. Montrose defeated him 12 Sept. 1644 near Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, and again (with General Baillie) at Kilsyth
Kilsyth
Kilsyth is a town of 10,100 roughly halfway between Glasgow and Stirling in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-Location:...
, 15 Aug. 1645. He was opposed to the celebrated and unfortunate 'engagement' to march into England for the rescue of the king. He had weight enough to dissuade Cromwell then from the invasion of Scotland. In 1649, under the act for putting 'the kingdom in a posture of defence,' he was one of the colonels for Fife. He was further nominated in the same year one of the commissioners of the treasury and exchequer. He died at Burleigh
Burleigh
-In Australia:*Burleigh, a suburb of Melbourne*Burleigh Heads, a suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland*Burleigh Head National Park*Electoral district of Burleigh, Queensland, Australia-In the United Kingdom:*Burleigh, Bracknell Forest*Burleigh, Gloucestershire...
, near Kinross
Kinross
Kinross is a burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It was formerly the county town of Kinross-shire.Kinross is a fairly small town, with some attractive buildings...
, 10 Aug. 1663. His wife died before him (in 1639). They had one son, John, third Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and four daughters.