Arthur James Balfour, philosopher and statesman, came to epitomize conservative thought in England while serving in Parliament for more than half a century. Originally elected in 1874 to represent Hertford, he served in several government posts, most notably under his uncle, Lord Robert Cecil, third Marquess of Salisbury, and later in the coalition government of David Lloyd George. Balfour was prime minister in 1902-1905.

Born 25 July 1848 in East Lothian, Scotland, Balfour was the eldest son of James Maitland Balfour and Lady Blanche Mary Harriett Gascoigne Cecil. His father, who made a fortune as director of the North British Railway and also served in Parliament, died in 1856. Balfour notes in Retrospect (1930), his autobiography, that his mother played an active and influential role in his upbringing, and contemporary accounts agree that she was a remarkable woman.

Before Balfour was eleven years old he was sent to the Grange, a boarding school...