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Arthur James Balfour (July 25, 1848 – March 19, 1930), 1st Earl of Balfour, was a statesman and Conservative Party politician who served as Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905. Born into an aristocratic Scottish family, Balfour began his political career as an MP for Hertford in 1874. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1887 to 1891, where his firm stance earned him both admiration and criticism. Balfour succeeded his uncle, Lord Salisbury (Robert Gascoyne-Cecil), as Prime Minister, perhaps giving rise to the expression Bob’s your uncle. His administration faced several challenges, including the aftermath of the Second Boer War, social unrest, and debates over tariffs. Although Balfour’s government introduced significant reforms, such as the Education Act of 1902, which improved funding for secondary schools, his tenure as Prime Minister was criticized for indecision. He resigned in 1905, paving the way for a Liberal landslide in the 1906 election. Despite this, Balfour remained a prominent figure in British politics. He became leader of the Conservative Party and later, as Foreign Secretary in David Lloyd George’s wartime coalition government, played a role in shaping post-war Europe. His most notable achievement as Foreign Secretary was the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which supported the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle East. Balfour was known for his philosophical interests and intellectualism, authoring several works on philosophy and science. He retired from active politics in 1929 and died in 1930. An original theme of streets named for Liberal politicians in South Wimbledon (for example, Harcourt Road and Gladstone Road) was diluted by later infill development, whereby the theme became British politicians in general. Balfour Road was laid out on the grounds of Grove House in the first decades of the twentieth century and adjoins Cecil Road, named for his uncle.
