William Rankin Ballard

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Captain William Rankin Ballard (August 12, 1847 – February 4, 1929) was a Seattle pioneer, banker, and land developer. He helped found Ballard, Washington, which was incorporated in 1890 and later annexed by Seattle in 1907. In the early 1890s, as acting manager of the Seattle National Bank, he helped finance the construction of the Interurban Building in Pioneer Square. He was the son of Levi Ward Ballard, founder of Auburn, Washington, and Phoebe Anne McConnell. He married Estella Thorndike in Seattle on November 12, 1882. The title Captain came from his command of the boat Zephyr between Seattle and Olympia. Ballard High School is named after him. He died in Seattle in 1929.