Lewis Balfour

Lewis Balfour (1777–1860) was a Scottish Church of Scotland minister and grandfather to the author Robert Louis Stevenson. Life Balfour was born on 30 August 1777 at Pilrig House between Edinburgh and Leith, the son of Jean Whytt (1750–1833) and John Balfour of Pilrig (1740–1814). His mother was from Bennochy Lodge near Kirkcaldy, Fife, the daughter of Dr Robert Whytt, Professor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and his father was the son of James Balfour. He was christened on 14 May 1777 in South Leith Parish Church. Lewis was educated at the High School in Edinburgh then studied divinity at the University of Edinburgh. He was licensed to preach by the Church of Scotland in 1805 and in August 1806 he was ordained as minister of Sorn.