William Ballantine (clergyman)

William Ballantine (or Ballentyne, or Bellenden) (1618–1661) was a Roman Catholic clergyman who became the first Prefect of Scotland.

Born in Douglas, South Lanarkshire in 1618, he took the oath at the Scots College in Rome on 1 November 1641, and for the next five years he studied philosophy and theology. In consequence of his delicate health, he was ordained a priest earlier than usual on 3 December 1645. He left the Scots College on 15 March 1646 for the mission in Scotland. He was declared the first Prefect of the Mission in Scotland by the Propaganda Congregation on 13 October 1653. He died on 2 September 1661, aged 43.