Soldier and politician. Born at Dunbog (N Fife), Balfour was a descendant of the Balfour's of Burleigh. The family estates had been forfeited after his grandfather had supported the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion. The young Balfour attended the University of St. Andrews and joined the army in 1761. He rose through the ranks and was posted to the American Colonies in 1774 as a Captain. he was injured at Bunker's Hill (1775) and present at the Battle of Long Island the following year. After leave at home, he returned to America as a Major in 1777, was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1778 and served as Commandant of Fort Ninety-Six in 1778.
Balfour served as Member of Parliament for the Wigtown Burghs (1790-96), and for Arundel in England (1797 - 1802). He served as aide-de-camp to King George III between 1782 and 1793. In 1794, he fought in Flanders under Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734 - 1801), was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1798 and became a General in 1803.
He died at Dunbog and lies buried in the kirkyard there.