Rice C. Ballard
Rice Carter Ballard | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1798 |
| Died | August 31, 1860 (aged 62) |
| Occupation(s) | Slave trader, cotton planter, merchant |
| Years active | 19th century |
| Known for | Slave trading business; cotton plantation ownership |
Rice Carter Ballard (circa 1798 – August 31, 1860) was a prominent 19th-century American figure known for his roles as a slave trader, cotton planter, and merchant. Among his business associates were Isaac Franklin and John Armfield. After withdrawing from the slave trading business, Ballard directed his earnings toward acquiring land and enslaved individuals. By the year 1860, he and his associate Samuel S. Boyd possessed ownership of nearly 500 enslaved people. The University of North Carolina holds Ballard's letters and commercial documents, which can be accessed through FromthePage.com.
Trading
According to historian Calvin Schermerhorn, Ballard utilized representatives including James G. Blakey, Andrew Grimm, Silas Omohundro, and Benjamin Parks to procure young, able-bodied enslaved persons from rural regions.
Legacy
An obituary published in Louisville's Courier-Journal in 1860 commended Ballard for his honesty, generosity, and charitable efforts, emphasizing his commitment to supporting friends and those in need through his wealth. Nevertheless, his descendants have since distanced themselves from his legacy.
In The Ledger and the Chain (2021), historian Joshua C. Rothman identifies Ballard alongside Franklin and Armfield as some of the most prosperous and influential slave traders in the Southern United States. Their enterprise controlled markets stretching from Alexandria to New Orleans, blending entrepreneurship, financial speculation, and racial slavery. Their success was built upon direct engagement with the harsh realities inherent in the trade.
See also
- List of American slave traders
- List of white American slave traders who had mixed-race children with enslaved black women
- Bibliography of the slave trade in the United States