A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ball, William
BALL. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 1; h-p., 30.)
William Ball was born 29 Nov. 1794.
This officer entered the Navy, 4 Nov. 1807, as Second-cl. Vol., on board the Prevoyante storeship, Master-Commanders Dan. M‘Coy and Alex. Black; removed as Midshipman, in May, 1810, to the Cretan 18, Capt. Chas. Fred. Payne; and, in the course of 1814, successively joined the Liverpool 40, Capt. Arthur Farquhar, Namur 74, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Williams, Leyden 60, Capt. John Davie, and Berwick 74, Capt. Edw. Brace. In Jan. 1813, while in charge, with only four of his own men to assist him, of a captured vessel, a body of 12 prisoners who were on board contrived to gain possession of her; but nine of them being killed, and the rest wounded and secured by the British in a desperate attempt made by the latter to recover their ascendancy, the prize was brought triumphantly into port. On rejoining the Cretan, Mr. Ball was employed on the West Scheldt in the arduous duty of obstructing the supplies intended for the enemy’s fleet; and when in the Berwick he witnessed the siege and surrender of Gaeta. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 6 March, 1815, but did not take up his commission until his return to England in June, 1816; since which period, with the exception of a twelve-month in the Coast Guard, which he was obliged to leave in consequence of having broken a leg, he has been on half-pay. Agent – J. Chippendale.