Thomas Ballantyne (journalist)

Thomas Ballantyne (1806–1871), was a Scottish journalist.

He was a native of Paisley, where he was born in 1806. Becoming editor of the Bolton Free Press, he at an early period of his life took an active part in advocating social and political reforms. While editor of the Manchester Guardian he became intimately associated with Richard Cobden and John Bright in their agitation against the Corn Laws, and in 1841 he published the Corn Law Repealer's Handbook. Along with Bright he was one of the four original proprietors of the Manchester Examiner, his name appearing as the printer and publisher. After the fusion of the Examiner with the Times, he became editor of the Liverpool Journal, and later of the Mercury. Subsequently he moved to London to edit the Leader, and he was for a time associated with Charles Mackay in the editorial department of the Illustrated London News. He also started the Statesman, which he edited till its close, when he became editor of the Old St. James's Chronicle.