Background
William Ballantine was born in London on the 3rd of January 1812, being the son of a London police-magistrate.
William Ballantine was born in London on the 3rd of January 1812, being the son of a London police-magistrate.
Ballantine was educated at St Paul's school, and called to the bar in 1834.
Ballantine began in early life a varied acquaintance with dramatic and literary society, and his experience, combined with his own pushing character and acute intellect, helped to obtain for him very soon a large practice, particularly in criminal cases. He became known as a formidable cross-examiner, his great rival being Serjeant Parry (1816 - 1880). Ballantine became a serjeant-at-law in 1856. He died at Margate on the 9th of January 1887, having previously published more than one volume of reminiscences. Serjeant Ballantine's private life was decidedly Bohemian; and though he earned large sums, he died very poor.
On 4 December 1841, he married Eliza, daughter of Henry Gyles of London.
