A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ball, Thomas
BALL. (Commander, 1828. f-p., 26; h-p., 24.)
Thomas Ball entered the Navy, 15 Nov. 1797, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Terrible 74, Capts. Sir Rich. Bickerton and Wm. Wolseley, forming part of the fleet in the Channel, where he became successively attached to the Cambridge 80, flagship of Sir Rich. King, and Immortality 36, Capt. Hon. Henry Hotham. After an additional servitude of nearly eight years in the East Indies on board the Eurydice 24, Terpsichore 32, and Pitt alias Salsette 36, all commanded by Capt. Walter Bathurst, Culloden 74, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew, and San Fiorenzo 40, Capt. John Bastard (during which period he was on one occasion taken prisoner), Mr. Ball obtained a commission, dated 2 Jan. 1809. His subsequent appointments were – 9 March, 1809, to the Clio 18, Capts. Thos. Folliott Baugh and Wm. Ffarington, on the Home station – 27 Sept. 1815, to the Satellite 18, Capt. Jas. Murray, in the Mediterranean – 10 Feb. 1821, after upwards of two years of half-pay, to the Valourous 28, commanded by the same officer, off Newfoundland – 13 Feb. 1822, to the Owen Glendower 42, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Robt. Mends, on the coast of Africa – and, 14 June, 1824, to the Blonde 42, Capt. Lord Byron, under whom he escorted from this country the remains of the late King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands. He was paid off from the Blonde in Dec. 1826, and on 28 Aug. 1828, was advanced to his present rank. Since that period he has not been afloat.