William Pitt Ballinger, by John Moretta well researched and enticingly written biography by John Moretta, brings the life of William Pitt Ballinger, into remembrance as one of the most integral men of his time (Moretta, 2000). John Moretta received his Ph.D. In history from Rice University (tamu.edu). Moretta is professor of history at Central College, Houston Community College, and teaches at the University of Houston (tamu.edu). William Pitt Ballinger, attorney, was born at Barbourville, Kentucky, on September 25, 1825, the son of James Franklin and Olivia (Adams) Ballinger (utexas.edu). He attended St. Mary's College in Bardstown, Kentucky, moved to Galveston in 1843, and began the study of law with an uncle, James Love (utexas.edu). He was admitted to the bar in 1847 (utexas.edu). During the Mexican War he enlisted as a private and advanced through the ranks to be adjutant of Albert Sidney Johnston's regiment (utexas.edu). In his book, Moretta discusses in detail how Ballinger was one of those individuals whose very existence had a monumental impact on the events and occurrences of his time (Moretta, 2000). In a foreword written by Don E. Carleton, he states that, "William Pitt Ballinger was a key player in the legal, political, and economic affairs of Texas and the South for more than four decades of the nineteenth century, yet his role has not been widely recognized (Moretta, 2000). John Moretta has made a significant contribution to our knowledge of Texas history by bringing much needed attention to this important Galveston attorney (Moretta, 2000)."

Utilizing Ballinger's engaging...

The book not only affords one a fascinating gaze into the successful tale of a great lawyer, but it also provides a lens through which countless other historical incidents and topics concerning the past can be examined (Moretta, 2000). Ballinger's story provides "a window thorough which we can examine many other historical issues and events," according to Moretta (Moretta, 2000).
Socially, politically, and culturally, the climate of Texas, the South, and the nation at large are intricately unveiled through the life, eyes, and mind of this remarkable man whose life span extended throughout much of the nineteenth century (Moretta, 2000). Some of the important historical issues touched upon in Moretta's book include Texas' post-war economic development, Texas' ties to its antebellum past, the impact Northern life had on Southerners, the rise of the corporation, the railroad industry, and the effects of industrialization (Moretta, 2000). "In short, Ballinger's full and varied life is a story that encompassed some of the most crucial, formative decades in the Republic's history (Moretta, 2000)."

In his book, Moretta discusses Ballinger's life as a lawyer, a soldier, a public servant, a civic leader, an author, an editorialist, a naturalist, an education reformer, and a bibliophile (Moretta, 2000). One particularly compelling event discussed in the book is how this significant, yet little-known historical figure first became associated with…