BALFOUR, Nisbet (1743-1823), of Denboign, Fife.

Balfour, the last of his line, distinguished himself in the American war, at the conclusion of which he was appointed a.d.c. to the King. He was highly thought of by his commanders, Cornwallis and Moira.3Ibid. 69, 503; HMC Hastings, iii. 183. His only sister was the wife of Robert Stewart of Castle Stewart who was instrumental in procuring his return to Parliament for Wigtown Burghs in 1790 on the interest of John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway. Henry Dundas approved his candidature and he could be relied upon to support Pitt’s administration, though no speech is known. He voted, as predicted, against the exemption of Scotland from the Test Act, 10 May 1791. In 1794 he commanded a brigade in Flanders—he saw no active service thereafter. Early in 1795 Galloway apparently proposed to transfer him to the seat for Saltash which Viscount Garlies was vacating, but substituted another of his sons instead; nor does he appear to have contemplated returning Balfour at the next election.4NLS mss 15, f. 33.

Balfour was on the Treasury list of candidates in quest of a seat in 1796.5PRO 30/8/197, ff. 98, 247. A year later an opening was found for him when Sir George Thomas vacated Arundel and offered the nomination to Pitt.6PRO 30/8/183, f. 36. He voted for the triple tax assessment, 4 Jan. 1798. In 1800 he declined an invitation to stand for Newark on the Newcastle interest at the next election.7SRO GD51/1/200/25. He retired at the dissolution. Balfour died 10 Oct. 1823.