George Ballard (c. 1706 – June 1755) was an English antiquary and biographer, the author of Memoirs of British Ladies (1752).
Ballard was born at Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. Self-educated, Ballard taught himself Saxon while working in a habit-maker's shop, and attracted the attention of the Saxon scholar Elizabeth Elstob. Lord Chedworth and other local gentleman provided him with an annuity of £60 a year, enabling Ballard to move to Oxford to use the Bodleian Library. Dr. Jenner appointed him a clerk of Magdalen College, Oxford, and he subsequently became a university beadle.
Ballard died young, and his only printed publication was Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain, who have been celebrated for their writings, or skill in the learned languages, arts and sciences (1752). This quarto volume was published by subscription, and dedicated to Sarah Talbot of Kineton, the wife of the clergyman William Talbot of Kineton who had helped him receive patronage as a young man, and Mary Delany. The first woman treated by Ballard's Memoirs was Juliana of Norwich; the last was Constantia Grierson (1704/5–1732).
Ballard left a large manuscript collection, and his substantial correspondence, to the Bodleian.
This is a list of the women who are treated in George Ballard's book Memoirs of British Ladies. Ballard provided memoirs for over 60 women, presenting them in chronological order.
Anne Askew ('Anne Askew, alias Kyme') (1521–1546), Protestant martyr'Mary Astell' (1688–1731), miscellaneous writerAnn Baynard, 'Anne Baynard' (1672–1697), savantMargaret Beaufort ('Margaret Countess of Richmond and Derby') (1443–1509), mother of Henry VIIJuliana Berners, 'Juliana Barnes, alias Berners' (b. ca. 1388), writerElizabeth Blake, Elizabeth Berkeley, 'Elizabeth Burnet' (1661–1709), religious writer, married Gilbert BurnetCatherine of Aragon ('Queen Catherine') (1485–1536), queen consortCatherine Parr ('Queen Katherine Parr') (1512–1548), queen consortKatherine Chidley (fl. 1616–1653), religious controversialist & LevellerLady Anne Clifford, 'Anne Countess of Pembroke' (1590–1676), autobiographerAnn Cooke, married name Ann Bacon, 'Lady Bacon' (1528–1610), daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, mother of Francis BaconCatherine Cooke, 'Katherine Killigrew' (c. 1530-1583), daughter of Sir Anthony CookeElizabeth Cooke, Elizabeth Russell, 'Lady Russel' (1528–1609), linguist, daughter of Sir Anthony CookeMargaret Cooke, married name Margaret Rowlett (d. 1558), gentlewoman, daughter of Sir Anthony CookeMildred Cooke, Mildred Cecil, 'Lady Burleigh' (1526–1689), daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, married William Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyDamaris Cudworth, 'Lady Masham' (1658–1708), philosopher & theological authorElizabeth Egerton, nee Cavendish, 'Elizabeth countess of Bridgwater' (1626–1663), writer'Queen Elizabeth' (1533–1603)'Lady Elizabeth Fane' (d. 1568), writer & literary patronAnne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea, nee Kingsmill, 'Anne Countess of Winchelsea' (1661–1720), poetElizabeth Fisher, married name 'Elizabeth Bland' (b. c.1660, d. in or after 1712?), HebraistJoanna Fitzalan (Jane Lumley), classicistMary Fitzalan, Countess of Arundel (born Mary Arundell; also Mary Ratcliffe; 'Mary Countess of Arundel') (d. 1557)Mary Howard, duchess of Norfolk ('Lady Mary Howard') (1539/40–1557)Frances Freke, married name Frances, Lady Norton, 'Lady Norton' (1640–1731), writerMargaret Giggs, later 'Margaret Clement' (1508–1570), niece and adopted daughter of Sir Thomas More'Constantia Grierson', nee Crawley (c. 1706-1733), classicistAnne Halkett, nee Murray, royalist & writer'Susanna Hopton', nee Harvey (1627–1709), religious writerMargaret Howe, married name 'Margaret Ascham', literary editor, wife of Roger AschamLady Jane Howard, married name Lady Jane Neville, 'Jane Countess of Westmorland' (1537–1593), noblewoman'Esther Inglis' or Esther Langlois, married name Esther Kello (1570/71-1624), calligrapher & miniaturistLady Jane Grey ('Lady Jane Gray') (1537–1554)Julian of Norwich ('Juliana, Anchoret of Norwich') (1343–1443), anchorite & writer'Margery Kempe' (c.1373-c.1440), religious writer'Anne Killigrew' (1660–1685), poet & painterElizabeth Knevitt, Countess of Lincoln, married name Elizabeth Clinton, 'Elizabeth Countess of Lincoln' (1574?–1630?), noblewoman & writerElizabeth Lawrence, married name 'Elizabeth Bury' (1644–1720), nonconformistAnne Lee, married name 'Anne Wharton' (1659–1685), poetMary Lee, 'Lady Chudleigh' (1656–1710), writer'Elizabeth Legge' (1580–1685), linguist & poet'Elizabeth Lucar' (Elizabeth Withypoll), calligrapherMargaret Lucas, 'Margaret Duchess of Newcastle' (c. 1624-1674), writer and biographerMary I, Queen of England and Ireland ('Queen Mary') (1516–1688)'Mary Queen of Scotland' (1542–1587)Mary Molesworth, 'Honorable Mrs. Monk' (d. 1715), poetCecilia More ('Cecilia Heron'), Latinist & daughter of Thomas MoreElizabeth More, married name 'Elizabeth Dancy', daughter of Thomas More'Honorable Mrs Dudleya North' (1675–1712), orientalist linguistGrace Norton, Grace Lady Gethin, 'Lady Gethin' (1676–1697), essayist'Lady Pakington', Dorothy Coventry, (d. 1679), writer'Blanch Parry' (1508-1589), antiquary'Katherine Philips', nee Fowler (1631–1684), poetCatherina or Catherine Riches, married name Catherina Boevey or 'Catherine Bovey' (d. 1726), philanthropist'Margaret Roper', nee More (1505–1544), scholar & daughter of Thomas More'Mary Roper', married name Mary Bassett (d. 1572), classicistElizabeth Sadler, married name 'Elizabeth Walker' (1623–1690), autobiographer & religious writer'Lady Anne Seymour', married name Anne Dudley, Countess of Warwick (1538–1587), poet'Lady Jane Seymour' (1541–1561), poet'Lady Margaret Seymour' (b. 1540), poetMary Sidney, married name Mary Herbert, 'Mary Countess of Pembroke' (1561–1621), poet & sister of Sir Philip SidneyArbella Stuart, 'Lady Arabella Seymour' (1575–1615), royal heiress'Catherine Tishem'or Catherine Thysmans, scholar, mother of Jan GruterLady Eleanor Touchet, 'Lady Eleanor Davies' (1590–1652), prophetess, married to John Davies (poet)'Elizabeth Jane Weston' (bap. 1581?, d. 1612), scholar & linguist