| Franz von Ballestrem | |
| Order: | President of the Reichstag |
| Term Start: | December 1898 |
| Term End: | 20 February 1907 |
| Predecessor: | Rudolf von Buol-Berenberg |
| Successor: | Udo zu Stolberg-Wernigerode |
| Birth Date: | 1834 9, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Pławniowice, Province of Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Death Place: | Pławniowice, Province of Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Party: | Centre Party |
Franz von Ballestrem (5 September 1834 – 23 December 1910) was a German entrepreneur, manager and politician for Centre Party.
Franz was born on 5 September 1834 in Plawniowitz (today in Poland) into the House of Ballerstrem, which belonged to an old German nobility. He was the son of Carl Wolfgang von Ballestrem (1801–1879) and his wife, Betha von Leithold (1803–1874).
He went to Adelskonvikt in Lviv. Between 1848 and 1851, he went to school in Głogów and Namur. He studied at Berg Academy in Liège. Ballestrem was in Prussian Army in 1855. In 1857, he became a Prussian Army Officer in 1st (Silesian) Life Cuirassiers "Great Elector". He was soldier in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71. From 1867, he was Rittmeister. After the death of his father, he owned majorat in Plawniowitz in Silesia.
From 1872 to 1893 and from 1898 to 1907, Ballestrem was a member of the Reichstag of the German Empire. From 1898 to 1907, Ballestrem was president of the Reichstag. From 1891 to 1903, Ballestrem was also member of Prussian House of Representatives. In 1872, he was vice president of Katholikentag in Breslau. In 1890, he was founder and president of People's Association for Catholic Germany in Silesia. In 1873, Ballestrem was Papal gentleman (Camerieri Segreti di Spada e Cappa). He was member of Order of the Holy Sepulchre and of Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
On 21 June 1858, he married Countess Hedwig von Saurma, Freiin von und zu der Jeltsch (12 November 1838 – 5 March 1915). Together they had nine children:
Franz von Ballestrem died on 23 December 1910 in Plawniowitz, at the age of 76. His wife Hedwig outlived him for 5 years.