L. Cornelius Balbus, a Spaniard of Gades whose citizenship was secured by Pompey and ratified at Rome in the case Cicero defended in 56 BC. He served as Caesar's confidential adviser and praefectus fabrum, was the first non-Italian to become consul (40 BC), and is Cicero's intimate correspondent throughout the 50s and 40s (Ad fam. 7.5-7; Ad Att. passim).