Ballantyne.Largely self taught. His poetry was heavily influenced by Robert Burns. Began as a house painter in Edinburgh, and was a student of draughtsmanship at the Trustees’ Academy in Edinburgh. In 1837 started his own stained glass company in Edinburgh. Worked on stained glass windows for the House of Lords as well as many church commissions in Edinburgh (e.g. Grey Friars, St. Giles) and Glasgow (Ibrox parish church). Supported the building of the Scott monument. Author of A Treatise on Painted Glass (1845), The Gaberlunzie’s Wallet (1843), The Miller of Deanhaugh, Lilias Lee (1871), and Life of David Roberts, R. A. (1866). Biographical information: ODNB. (AC)
| Poem title | Date | Periodical | Roles | id # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wee Raggit Laddie | 1832-12-22 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 3021 |
| The First Grey Hair | 1842-07-16 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 5335 |
| The Wee Raggit Lassie | 1842-11-19 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 5355 |
| Bonny Bonaly | 1845-01-11 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 5798 |
| A Chant For Ragged Schools | 1850-03-16 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 6063 |
| The Twin Brothers | 1851-01-06 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 6102 |
| The Faither’s Knee | 1856-05-31 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 6303 |
| Wife, Come Hame | 1856-05-31 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 6301 |
| The Gray Hill Plaid | 1856-05-31 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 6304 |
| Naebody’s Bairn | 1856-05-31 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 6300 |
| Old Age’s Garland | 1856-05-31 | Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal | Poet | 6302 |