Arthur James Balfour Biography and Timeline

Birth of Arthur James Balfour

Birth of Arthur James Balfour, East Lothian

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for Hertford

Role range: 1874-1880 – 1874-1885

Congress of Berlin

Returns home claiming, "peace with honour"

Role range: 1877-1878

Parliamentary Private Secretary

Appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to his uncle, Lord Salisbury

Role range: 1874-1880

A Defence of Philosophic Doubt

Publication of "A Defence of Philosophic Doubt"

Congress of Berlin

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

Role range: 1877-1878

Secretary of State for Scotland

Appointed Scottish Secretary & enters the Cabinet

Role range: 1885-1886 – 1885-1886

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for East Manchester

Role range: 1885-1905

Local Government Board

Appointed President of the Local Government Board

Role range: 1885-1886

Chief Secretary

Appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland

Role range: 1886-1892 – 1887-1891

Legislation

Irish Crimes Bill, trial by jury is suspended

Role range: 1886-1892 – 1887-1891

Reform of Jury System

Irish Crimes Bill, trial by jury is suspended

Role range: 1886-1892 – 1887-1891

Reform of Housing

The Congested Districts Board is set up to ease housing problems

Role range: 1886-1892 – 1887-1891

Reform of Legal System

Allows courts to revise unjust rents

Role range: 1886-1892 – 1887-1891

Name

called "Bloody Balfour" by Irish Nationalists

Role range: 1886-1892 – 1887-1891

First Lord of the Treasury

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

Role range: 1891-1892

Prime Minister of Great Britain

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

Role range: 1902-1905 – 1902-1906

Economy

Chamberlain campaigns for Imperial Preference & provokes Conservative free traders

Role range: 1902-1905 – 1902-1906

Rosyth Naval Base

Rosyth naval base is constructed

Role range: 1902-1905 – 1902-1906

France & Britain recognize each others spheres of interest eg in Morocco

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

Role range: 1902-1906

Election

Balfour loses his seat in Manchester East

Role range: 1902-1905 – 1902-1905

Election

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

Role range: 1902-1905 – 1902-1905

Resignation of Arthur James Balfour

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

Role range: 1902-1905 – 1902-1905

Election

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

Role range: 1902-1905 – 1902-1905

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for City of London

Role range: 1906-1922

Election

The Conservatives are divided over the Empire & free trade

Constitution of Great Britain

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Constitution of Great Britain

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Constitutional Opposition Strategy

Argues that the electorate should judge the governments finance programme.

Role range: 1902-1911

House of Lords Crisis

Backs the Lords during the escalating constitutional dispute.

Role range: 1902-1911

Constitution of Great Britain

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Independence of Great Britain

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Independence of South Africa

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Conservative Budget Campaign

Supports Conservative resistance to the Liberal finance programme.

Role range: 1902-1911

Peoples Budget Opposition

Opposes Lloyd Georges Peoples Budget and its new taxation.

Role range: 1902-1911

Constitution of Great Britain

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Legislation

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Reform of Parliament

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

Role range: 1906-1922

Conservative Election Campaign

Makes opposition to Liberal constitutional policy a central issue.

Role range: 1902-1911

January General Election

Leads Conservatives through the January general election.

Role range: 1902-1911