ROBERT MICHAEL BALLANTYNE BIOGRAPHY

BALLANTYNE, ROBERT MICHAEL (1825-1894). —Writer of tales for boys, born in Edinburgh, was a connection of the well-known printers. As a youth he spent some years in the service of the Hudson's Bay Co., and was then a member of Constable's printing firm. In 1856 he took to literature as a profession, and pub. about 80 tales, which, abounding in interesting adventure and information, and characterised by a thoroughly healthy tone, had great popularity. Among them are The Young Fur Traders (1856), The Coral Island , Fighting the Flames , Martin Rattler , The World of Ice , The Dog Crusoe , Erling the Bold , and Black Ivory . B. was also an accomplished water-colour artist, and in all respects lived up to the ideals he sought to instil into his readers. He d. at Rome.