Arthur James Balfour Biography

Birth of Arthur James Balfour, East Lothian

Elected Member of Parliament for Hertford

Publication of "A Defence of Philosophic Doubt"

Returns home claiming, "peace with honour". Attends the Congress of Berlin with Lord Salisbury

Appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to his uncle, Lord Salisbury

Returns home claiming, "peace with honour"

Appointed President of the Local Government Board

Elected Member of Parliament for East Manchester

Appointed Scottish Secretary & enters the Cabinet

called "Bloody Balfour" by Irish Nationalists

Appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland

Irish Crimes Bill, trial by jury is suspended

Irish Crimes Bill, trial by jury is suspended

The Congested Districts Board is set up to ease housing problems

Allows courts to revise unjust rents

Appointed First Lord of the Treasury, a post usually held by a Prime Minister

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, succeeds his uncle, Lord Salisbury

Chamberlain campaigns for Imperial Preference & provokes Conservative free traders

Rosyth naval base is constructed

France & Britain recognize each others spheres of interest eg in Morocco & Egypt. Concludes diplomatic means of resolving colonial conflicts between Britain & France

The Conservatices win just 156 seats at the general election. Defeated after a split by tariff reform proposals of Joseph Chamberlain

Balfour loses his seat in Manchester East

Resigns over the policy of Imperial Preference rather then call an election

Resigns over the policy of Imperial Preference rather then call an election

The Conservatives are divided over the Empire & free trade

Elected Member of Parliament for City of London

Supports Conservative resistance to the Liberal finance programme.

The Government introduces the Parliament Bill to curb the power of the Lords

The Conservatives defeat the budget in the Lords. Balfours mis-handling of the Parliament Act leads to a "Balfour Must Go" campaign

Opposes Lloyd Georges Peoples Budget and its new taxation.

The Conservatives defeat the budget in the Lords. Balfours mis-handling of the Parliament Act leads to a "Balfour Must Go" campaign

Declares giving equal rights to blacks in South Africa will threaten white civilization

The South Africa Union Bill has its 2nd reading but MPs

Argues that the electorate should judge the governments finance programme.

Backs the Lords during the escalating constitutional dispute.

A Royal Proclamation creates the self-governing body of South Africa

A Royal Proclamation creates the self-governing body of South Africa

A Royal Proclamation creates the self-governing body of South Africa

Makes opposition to Liberal constitutional policy a central issue.

Leads Conservatives through the January general election.

Represents Conservatives in talks over House of Lords reform.

Negotiates unsuccessfully with Asquith's Liberal leadership.

Leads Conservatives through the December general election.

Again contests the constitutional powers of the House of Lords.

Resigns as Conservative Party leader after mounting internal criticism.

Ends nine years leading the Conservative opposition.

Resigns as Conservative Party leader over Irish Home Rule

Resigns as Conservative Party leader over Irish Home Rule

Delivers the Gifford lectures on "Theism & Humanism"

Appointed First Sea Lord of the Admiralty

Appointed Foreign Minister, 1st term

Appointed Foreign Minister, 1st term

Appointed Foreign Minister, 2nd term

Heads a diplomatic mission to the USA

"The establishment in Palestine of a National home for the Jewish people". Sends the "Balfour Declaration" to Lord Rothschild of the British Zionist Federation

Urges the continuation of existing relations with Russia

Supports British diplomatic work following the wartime council.

Attends the Conference as a 2nd Plenipotentiary

The Balfour Declaration is confirmed by Allied Governments at the San Remo Conference

The Balfour Declaration is confirmed by Allied Governments at the San Remo Conference

Represents British interests in League diplomacy.

Main architect of the Treaty of St Germain

Attends the Conference as a British Representitive

Created Earl Balfour

o other British PM is intelectually as highly regarded. Delivers the Gifford lectures on "Theism & Thought"

Appointed Lord President of the Council, the "elder statesman" of Baldwins Cabinet