Ballantyne, R.M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894

Robert Michael Ballantyne was born into a well-to-do Edinburgh literary family. His father was a newspaper publisher and his uncle was the publisher of Sir Walter Scott. The family lost their money in 1841, and Robert became apprenticed as a clerk with the Hudson Bay Fur Company in Canada. This gave him a taste for adventure and ideas for his later career as a writer, painter, and lecturer back in Britain. Ballantyne wrote over forty books, mostly adventure books for children.

From the description of R.M. Ballantyne letter to Jas. McGrouther, 1881 Nov. 21. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 62171552

An author of children's books, R. M. Ballantyne was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, worked in Canada as a clerk for the Hudson's Bay Company, and later worked in printing and publishing for Thomas Constable, Edinburgh.

From the description of The dog Crusoe : a tale of the western prairies, [ca. 1860]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81899796

From the description of The dog Crusoe : a tale of the western prairies, [ca. 1860]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702148462

Ballantyne was born on Apr. 24, 1825 in Edinburgh, Scotland; became apprentice clerk with Hudson's Bay Company in Manitoba, Canada; requested a wilderness post, and was sent to posts along the north shore of the St. Lawrence, 1846-47; following his return to Scotland in 1847, a woman who had enjoyed Ballantyne's letters to his mother offered to finance a private printing of his recollections; this led to the publication in 1848 of Hudson's Bay; or, every-day life in the wilds of North America; wrote more than 90 books, many of them adventure stories; he was also a draftsman and water-colorist who exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, and he illustrated many of his books; publications include Snowflakes and sunbeams; or, the young fur traders (1856) and Ungava : a tale of Esquimaux-land (1858) and An author's adventures, or personal reminiscences in bookmaking (1893); he died Feb. 8, 1894 in Rome.

From the description of Papers, 1876-1893. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39813100

R.M. Ballantyne was a Scottish writer of children's stories. The University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections has a mandate to acquire literary papers.

From the description of R.M. Ballantyne collection. [1887-1893]. (University of Victoria Libraries). WorldCat record id: 660202714

Robert Michael Ballantyne lived from 1825 to 1894. He was born into a well-to-do Edinburgh literary family. His father was a newspaper publisher and his uncle the publisher of Sir Walter Scott. The family lost their money in 1841, and Robert became apprenticed as a clerk with the Hudson Bay Fur Company in Canada. This gave him a taste for adventure and ideas for his later career as a writer, painter, and lecturer back in Britain. Ballantyne wrote over forty books, mostly adventure books for children.

From the description of The rover of the Andes : a tale of adventure in South America / by R.M. Ballantyne, ca. 1884. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 56342125

Biography

Ballantyne was born on April 24, 1825 in Edinburgh, Scotland; became apprentice clerk with Hudson's Bay Company in Manitoba, Canada; requested a wilderness post, and was sent to posts along the north shore of the St. Lawrence, 1846-47; following his return to Scotland in 1847, a woman who had enjoyed Ballantyne's letters to his mother offered to finance a private printing of his recollections; this led to the publication in 1848 of Hudson's Bay; or, every-day life in the wilds of North America ; wrote more than 90 books, many of them adventure stories; he was also a draftsman and water-colorist who exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, and he illustrated many of his books; publications include Snowflakes and sunbeams; or, the young fur traders (1856) and Ungava: a tale of Esquimaux-land (1858) and An author's adventures, or personal reminiscences in bookmaking (1893); he died February 8, 1894 in Rome.

From the guide to the R.M. Ballantyne Papers, 1876-1893, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Dept. of Special Collections.)