William Pitt Ballinger

Few people have played a more important role in the history of Texas than William Pitt Ballinger. Though not as well known as legendary figures Stephen F. Austin or Sam Houston, Ballinger is one of those individuals whose behind-the-scenes life had a major impact on the events of his time. This thoroughly researched and engagingly written biography brings Ballinger to life as one of the most compleat men of his time: lawyer, soldier, public servant, civic leader, author, editorialist, naturalist, educational reformer, and bibliophile. But Ballinger's life was not just about the law: it was about living life to the fullest. He was an intense, driven man, devoted to his family, his law practice, his nation, and his beloved state. In Ballinger's fascinating life and career we see reflected some of the most important issues of his era, including secession, slavery, corporations, and the law. The social, political, and cultural climate of Texas, the South, and the nation are revealed through the life, eyes, and mind of this remarkable, articulate man whose life spanned much of the nineteenth century.

A signal contribution to nineteenth-century history, this well crafted biography of the father of the legal profession in Texas deserves the attention of every student of the state's history. It is deeply researched, beautifully written, and analytically incisive - a significant scholarly accomplishment that illuminates the major events and issues of Ballinger's era. - John B. Boles, Editor, Journal of Southern History; ""John Anthony Moretta has written more than a biography of William Pitt Ballinger. He has fashioned a superb study of an era in Texas history and the history of the South and has broadened our knowledge of the practice of law in Texas in the pre- and post-Civil War eras. Until the advent of the Civil War, Ballinger was a Unionist. At that point, he saw in secession a reenactment of the American Revolution. By the time Texas seceded on February 2, 1861, there was no more confirmed rebel than Ballinger. Until his death on January 20, 1888, Ballinger's legal practice was devoted primarily to railroad and real estate matters. Nominated to both the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, he shied away from both appointments. William Pitt Ballinger has been eminently well served by his biographer, John Anthony Moretta."" - Stanley Siegel, University of Houston

John Anthony Moretta received his Ph.D. in history from Rice University. He is professor of history at Central College of the Houston Community College System, and he teaches at the University of Houston.