Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ballard, Edward George
BALLARD, EDWARD GEORGE (1791–1860), miscellaneous writer, was the son of Edward Ballard, an alderman of Salisbury, and Elizabeth, daughter of G. F. Benson of that city. Owing to the delicacy of his health, his education was much neglected. He obtained a situation in the Stamp Office in 1809, and, having resigned this appointment, entered the Excise Office, which he also left of his own accord in 1817. He applied himself vigorously to study. In 1817 he became a contributor to Wooller's ‘Reasoner.’ The following year he married Mary Ann Shadgett, and wrote several criticisms and verses for the ‘Weekly Review,’ then edited by his brother-in-law, William Shadgett. He contributed to the ‘Literary Chronicle’ and the ‘Imperial Magazine’ under the signature E. G. B., and to the ‘Literary Magnet’ and the ‘World of Fashion’ under that of Γ. He published in 1825 a volume entitled ‘A New Series of Original Poems,’ and a few years after another entitled ‘Microscopic Amusements.’ He was exceedingly fond of research. Robert Benson [q. v.], his cousin, and Hatcher received no small help from him in writing their ‘History of Salisbury’ (1843), which formed part of Hoare's ‘Wiltshire.’ He helped John Gough Nichols in the works undertaken for the Camden Society. In 1848 he brought out some parts of a continuation of Strype's ‘Ecclesiastical Annals’ in a publication called the ‘Surplice,’ but this paper and Ballard's scheme soon came to an end. He wrote occasionally in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ and in ‘Notes and Queries.’ He lost his wife in 1820. He died at Islington on 14 Feb. 1860, leaving a son, Edward Ballard, M.D., author of several medical works, and a daughter.
[Gent. Mag. 3rd ser. vol. viii. 1860.]