Ballington Booth
The dissenting Salvation Army officer who broke away to build Volunteers of America, creating a lasting engine for American social service.
1857–1940 (age 83)·American Christian minister·Birthday: July 28
Biography
Born into the founding family of The Salvation Army, Ballington Booth seemed destined for a life within its ranks. He and his wife, Maud, served as officers in the UK and the United States, where Ballington eventually rose to lead the American operation. However, a clash over autonomy and control with the Army's London headquarters, led by his brother, culminated in a dramatic 1896 split. Rejecting an order to return to England, Booth and his supporters founded a new organization: Volunteers of America. Cast in a distinctly American mold, with military-style ranks and a Christian mission, the VOA focused on practical aid—soup kitchens, shelters, and prisoner rehabilitation. As its first General, Booth steered the organization for over four decades, building it into a permanent and powerful force for charity that operates to this day.
#1 When Ballington Was Born
The biggest hits of 1857
Ballington's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1857Born
1862Started school
President: Abraham Lincoln
1870Became a teenager
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1873Could drive
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1875Could vote
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1878Turned 21
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1887Turned 30
President: Grover Cleveland
1897Turned 40
President: William McKinley
1907Turned 50
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1917Turned 60
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 70
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 80
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Died at 83
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the national charitable organization Volunteers of America in 1896.
- Served as the first General of Volunteers of America from its founding until his death in 1940.
- Previously served as a high-ranking officer and national commander for The Salvation Army in the United States.
Did You Know?
He was the son of Salvation Army founders William and Catherine Booth.
His wife, Maud Ballington Booth, was his equal partner in founding and leading the Volunteers of America.
The split from The Salvation Army was famously dramatic, involving a packed meeting at New York's Carnegie Hall.
“We must take the message of salvation to the darkest corners of the city.”
