BALFOUR, Francis. Fife 1744? — Fernie estate, Monimail, Fife 7.5.1818. British (Scottish) Physician in India. Son of Arthur Balfour (d. 1746), an officer, and Janet Peterson. Dr.Med. 1767 Edinburgh. From 1769 Assistant Surgeon in E.I.C.’s service in India, mainly in Calcutta, full surgeon 1777. He was a friend of Warren Hastings and soon joined the A.S.B, where he was very active. Became famous with his “lunatic” research. Also interested in Oriental literature. Retired in 1807, returned to Edinburgh and spent his last years in the family estate. Married 1777 his cousin Emilia Balfour, at least two children.
Publications: Diss. De gonorrhoea virulenta. Edinburgh 1767; other medical works.
– On the influence of the moon in fevers. 59 p. Calcutta 1784 & Edinburgh 1785, and several editions (see further As.Res. 8), also included in A collection of treatises on the effects of sol-lunar influence in fevers. 33+306 p. L. 1795, 3rd ed. 359 p. L. 1815.
– “A Table containing Examples of all the different Species of Infinitives and Participles that are derived from Tri-literal Verbs, in the Form in which they are used in the Persian, and in the Language of Hindustan”, As. Res. 2, 1790, 207-223; other articles on Indian subjects in As. Res. (on Arabic, Persian and Hindustani).
Sources: Several defective 19th century biographies quoted in the Br. Biogr. Archives; Buckland, Dictionary; L.S[tephen], D.N.B. 3, 1885, 50; WikiTree; Wikipedia.
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