Captain William Rankin Ballard (August 12, 1847 – February 4, 1929) was a
Seattle pioneer, banker,[1] and land developer.[2] He was one of the founders of the city of
Ballard, Washington (incorporated in 1890) which was later annexed to the growing city of Seattle, Washington in 1907.[3] As acting manager of the Seattle National Bank in the early 1890s, he facilitated the construction of what is now known as the
Interurban Building in the
Pioneer Square neighborhood.[4]
William Rankin Ballard was born to Levi Ward Ballard (founder of
Auburn, Washington[5]) and Phoebe Anne McConnell[6] August 12, 1847. He married Estella Thorndike on November 12, 1882 in Seattle,[6] and died in Seattle February 4, 1929.
The title Captain derives from his command of the boat
Zephyr[7] that operated between Seattle and
Olympia to the south.