William Pitt Ballinger, by John Moretta Well

William Pitt Ballinger, by John Moretta well researched and enticingly written biography by John Moretta, brings the life of William Pitt Ballinger, into remembrance as one of the most integral men of his time (Moretta, 2000). John Moretta received his Ph.D. In history from Rice University (tamu.edu). Moretta is professor of history at Central College, Houston Community College, and teaches at the University of Houston (tamu.edu). William Pitt Ballinger, attorney, was born at Barbourville, Kentucky, on September 25, 1825, the son of James Franklin and Olivia (Adams) Ballinger (utexas.edu). He attended St. Mary's College in Bardstown, Kentucky, moved to Galveston in 1843, and began the study of law with an uncle, James Love (utexas.edu). He was admitted to the bar in 1847 (utexas.edu). During the Mexican War he enlisted as a private and advanced through the ranks to be adjutant of Albert Sidney Johnston's regiment (utexas.edu).

In his book, Moretta discusses in detail how Ballinger was one of those individuals whose very existence had a monumental impact on the events and occurrences of his time (Moretta, 2000). In a foreword written by Don E. Carleton, he states that, "William Pitt Ballinger was a key player in the legal, political, and economic affairs of Texas and the South for more than four decades of the nineteenth century, yet his role has not been widely recognized (Moretta, 2000). John Moretta has made a significant contribution to our knowledge of Texas history by bringing much needed attention to this important Galveston attorney (Moretta, 2000)."

Utilizing Ballinger's engaging life and career the book reflects on some of the most important events of his era including secession, slavery, and the law (Moretta, 2000). The book not only affords one a fascinating gaze into the successful tale of a great lawyer, but it also provides a lens through which countless other historical incidents and topics concerning the past can be examined (Moretta, 2000). Ballinger's story provides "a window thorough which we can examine many other historical issues and events," according to Moretta (Moretta, 2000).

Socially, politically, and culturally, the climate of Texas, the South, and the nation at large are intricately unveiled through the life, eyes, and mind of this remarkable man whose life span extended throughout much of the nineteenth century (Moretta, 2000). Some of the important historical issues touched upon in Moretta's book include Texas' post-war economic development, Texas' ties to its antebellum past, the impact Northern life had on Southerners, the rise of the corporation, the railroad industry, and the effects of industrialization (Moretta, 2000). "In short, Ballinger's full and varied life is a story that encompassed some of the most crucial, formative decades in the Republic's history (Moretta, 2000)."

In his book, Moretta discusses Ballinger's life as a lawyer, a soldier, a public servant, a civic leader, an author, an editorialist, a naturalist, an education reformer, and a bibliophile (Moretta, 2000). One particularly compelling event discussed in the book is how this significant, yet little-known historical figure first became associated with Gilded Age tycoon Jay Gould (Moretta, 2000). According to Moretta, in his long and illustrious career as a lawyer, Ballinger was usually the picture of calm and confidence, but on the morning of April 21, 1881, Ballinger found it difficult to maintain his composure as he awaited a conference with Jay Gould, the legendary "robber baron" of the Gilded Age, who had written to Ballinger seeking to obtain legal advice (Moretta, 2000). After four hours of consultation, Gould left Ballinger's office with the legal advice he had sought plus a bill for $2,500 (Moretta, 2000). Moretta stated that Gould later said of the meeting that he was looking for "a lawyer with great ability and nerve," and that Ballinger's insightful opinion convinced him of his ability, and that the size of the bill convinced him that Ballinger had the nerve (Moretta, 2000).

Jay Gould was just one of the many significant figures who befriended or worked with Ballinger (Moretta, 2000). According to the book, Ballinger's list of friends and acquaintances read like a "Who's Who" of the mid-nineteenth century: Daniel Webster, Samuel Colgate, William Tecumseh Sherman, Albert Sidney Johnston, Michel Menard, Jefferson Davis, William Marsh Rice, and Francis Lubbock just to name a few, according to Moretta (Moretta, 2000). As a youth, Ballinger set his sights on the law, displaying a picture of noted advocate Daniel Webster above his desk. Little did he know that a few years later he would be contacted by Secretary of State Webster to investigate the activities of Mexican revolutionary Jose Mar'a Jesus Carajal (Moretta, 2000).