Ballantyne, ROBERT MICHAEL

Ballantyne, ROBERT MICHAEL, nephew of the preceding, a writer of admirable tales for boys, was born at Edinburgh in 1825. His first book, issued in 1848, was a record of personal experiences during a six years' residence (1841-47) in the territories of the Hudson Bay Company. In 1856 he took to literature as a profession, making it his aim as far as possible to write from personal experience, and introducing interesting facts and descriptions. His first tales were founded on experiences in the backwoods of Rupert's Land, among the fur-traders and Red Indians; the Lighthouse was written after a short residence in the Bell Rock lighthouse; Erling the Bold, after a visit to Norway; and The Settler and the Savage, after a visit to the Cape. Ballantyne (a nephew of James and John) died at Rome, 8th February 1894. He had written some 80 volumes. See his Personal Recollections (1893).