Ballinger, William Pitt, 1825-1888

Attorney of Houston, Texas. One of two Texas commissioners sent to negotiate a cessation of hostilities between U.S. troops and the state of Texas in May 1865.

From the guide to the William Pitt Ballinger diary MSS. 0104., 1864-1868, (W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama)

William Pitt Ballinger, attorney, born in Kentucky in 1825, moved to Galveston in 1843 and began the study of law with an uncle, James Love. He was admitted to the bar in 1847. During the Mexican War, he enlisted as a private and advanced through the ranks to be adjutant of Albert Sidney Johnston's regiment. In 1850 he married Hallie P. Jack of Brazoria County. Ballinger served as a United States district attorney for Texas from 1850 until 1854, when he became a partner in a Galveston law firm with Thomas McKinney Jack and M.L. Mott. In 1861 Ballinger was appointed Confederate receiver by Judge D.G. Hill of the Confederate District Court. Governor Pendleton Murrah and General John Bankhead Magruder, commander of the district of Texas, appointed Ballinger and Ashbel Smith special commissioners at the end of the Civil War to secure terms of peace for the state. Ballinger declined appointments to the Texas Supreme Court in 1871 and in 1874. He participated in the Constitutional Convention of 1875 as a member of the Judicial Committee. Texans offered Ballinger the Democratic nomination for governor in July 1878, but he refused.

From the description of Ballinger, William Pitt, papers, 1815-1909. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 70263497

William Pitt Ballinger, attorney, born in Kentucky in 1825, moved to Galveston in 1843 and began the study of law with an uncle, James Love. He was admitted to the bar in 1847. During the Mexican War, he enlisted as a private and advanced through the ranks to be adjutant of Albert Sidney Johnston's regiment. In 1850 he married Hallie P. Jack of Brazoria County.

Ballinger served as a United States district attorney for Texas from 1850 until 1854, when he became a partner in a Galveston law firm with Thomas McKinney Jack and M. L. Mott. In 1861 Ballinger was appointed Confederate receiver by Judge D. G. Hill of the Confederate District Court.

Gov. Pendleton Murrah and Gen. John Bankhead Magruder, commander of the district of Texas, appointed Ballinger and Ashbel Smith special commissioners at the end of the Civil War to secure terms of peace for the state.

Ballinger declined appointments to the Texas Supreme Court in 1871 and in 1874. He participated in the Constitutional Convention of 1875 as a member of the Judicial Committee. Texans offered Ballinger the Democratic nomination for governor in July 1878, but he refused.

From the guide to the Ballinger (William Pitt) Papers BALLINGER, WILLIAM PITT., 1815-1909, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)