Robert Balfour, 5th Lord Balfour of Burleigh
Encyclopedia
Robert Balfour, 5th Lord Balfour of Burleigh (died 1757), was a Jacobite
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Balfour, when a youth fell in love with a 'pretty face,' far inferior in rank, much to the annoyance of the family. He was sent to travel abroad in the hope that he would forget his attachment. Before he set out he declared to his lady-love that if in his absence she married he should kill her husband. Notwithstanding the threat, she did marry a Henry Stenhouse, schoolmaster at Inverkeithing
, acquainting him beforehand of the hazard. On Balfour's return his first inquiry was after the girl. On being informed of her marriage, he proceeded on horseback (with two attendants) directly to the school at Inverkeithing, called Stenhouse out, deliberately shot him (wounding him in the shoulder), and quietly returned to Burleigh
. This was on 9 April 1707. The poor schoolmaster lingered twelve days, and then died. Balfour was tried for the murder in the high court of justiciary
on 4 Aug. 1709. The defence was ingenious, but inadequate. He was brought in guilty, and sentenced to be beheaded
on 6 Jan. 1709-10. But a few days prior to this he escaped from the Edinburgh Tolbooth
by exchanging clothes with his sister, who resembled him. He skulked for some time in the neighbourhood of Burleigh, and a great ash-tree, hollow in the trunk, was long shown as his place of concealment. On the death of his father, in 1713, the title devolved on him. His next appearance was at the meeting of Jacobites at Lochmaben
, 29 May 1714, when 'the Pretender's' health was drunk at the cross, on their knees, Lord Burleigh denouncing damnation against all who would not drink it. He engaged in the rebellion of 1715. For this he was attainted by act of parliament, and his estates forfeited to the crown. He died, without issue, in 1757.
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
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Balfour, when a youth fell in love with a 'pretty face,' far inferior in rank, much to the annoyance of the family. He was sent to travel abroad in the hope that he would forget his attachment. Before he set out he declared to his lady-love that if in his absence she married he should kill her husband. Notwithstanding the threat, she did marry a Henry Stenhouse, schoolmaster at Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing is a town and a royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, located on the Firth of Forth. According to population estimates , the town has a population of 5,265. The port town was given burgh status by King David I of Scotland in the 12th century and is situated about 9 miles north from...
, acquainting him beforehand of the hazard. On Balfour's return his first inquiry was after the girl. On being informed of her marriage, he proceeded on horseback (with two attendants) directly to the school at Inverkeithing, called Stenhouse out, deliberately shot him (wounding him in the shoulder), and quietly returned to Burleigh
Burleigh
-In Australia:*Burleigh, a suburb of Melbourne*Burleigh Heads, a suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland*Burleigh Head National Park*Electoral district of Burleigh, Queensland, Australia-In the United Kingdom:*Burleigh, Bracknell Forest*Burleigh, Gloucestershire...
. This was on 9 April 1707. The poor schoolmaster lingered twelve days, and then died. Balfour was tried for the murder in the high court of justiciary
High Court of Justiciary
The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal. As a court of first instance, the High Court sits mainly in Parliament House, or in the former Sheriff Court building, in Edinburgh, but also sits from time...
on 4 Aug. 1709. The defence was ingenious, but inadequate. He was brought in guilty, and sentenced to be beheaded
Beheaded
Beheaded is a Death metal band from Malta. They were formed in 1991, by singer Marcel Scalpello, guitarist David Bugeja, and drummer Chris Brincat...
on 6 Jan. 1709-10. But a few days prior to this he escaped from the Edinburgh Tolbooth
Old Tolbooth, Edinburgh
The Old Tolbooth was a medieval building located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland.Demolished in 1817, the Tolbooth served various purposes during its existence. It housed early meetings of the Estates of Scotland, Court of Session, and also of the Provost and Burgesses of the Burgh Council...
by exchanging clothes with his sister, who resembled him. He skulked for some time in the neighbourhood of Burleigh, and a great ash-tree, hollow in the trunk, was long shown as his place of concealment. On the death of his father, in 1713, the title devolved on him. His next appearance was at the meeting of Jacobites at Lochmaben
Lochmaben
Lochmaben is a small town in Scotland, and site of a once-important castle. It lies four miles west of Lockerbie, in Dumfries and Galloway.-Notable people:*Angus Douglas - Scottish internationalist footballer...
, 29 May 1714, when 'the Pretender's' health was drunk at the cross, on their knees, Lord Burleigh denouncing damnation against all who would not drink it. He engaged in the rebellion of 1715. For this he was attainted by act of parliament, and his estates forfeited to the crown. He died, without issue, in 1757.