Ballantyne, James and John 1772-1833 and 1774-1821
Scottish printers

They were born in Kelso and were both at Kelso Grammar School with Sir Walter Scott. James was trained for the law, but in 1797 started the Tory Kelso Mail. In 1802, having already printed some ballads for Scott, he produced the first two volumes of the Border Minstrelsy. At Scott's suggestion he moved the firm to Edinburgh, and in 1805 Scott became a secret partner in the business, which in 1808 expanded into the printing, publishing and bookselling firm of John Ballantyne & Co, Scott having one-half share, and each of the brothers a quarter. As early as 1813 bankruptcy threatened the firm, and it was deeply involved in Archibald Constable's ruin (1826). John had died bankrupt five years earlier, and James was employed by the creditors' trustees in editing the Weekly Journal and in the literary management of the printing office.