St. John's College, Cambridge, as minor scholar in 1872, became foundation scholar in 1874, and graduated B.A. with second-class classical honours in 1876, proceeding M.A. in 1878. He was a master at Marlborough College from 1877 to 1886, and from that year till 1889 was principal of Nelson College, New Zealand. On his return to England he became in April 1890 headmaster of Leamington college, from which he retired in 1893.
Of splendid physique (he was 6 ft. 3 in. in height and weighed in 1886 over 17 stone), Ford was as a cricketer one of the hardest hitters ever known, surpassed only by Mr. C. I. Thornton. His longest authenticated hit was 144 yards; in August 1885 at Maidstone he scored 44 runs in 17 minutes in the first innings, and 75 runs in 45 minutes in the second innings for Middlesex v. Kent. He was a slow round arm bowler and a good field at point. After retiring from his work as schoolmaster, he wrote much on cricket, publishing 'A Cricketer on Cricket' (1900); 'Middlesex County C.C. 1864–1899' (1900); and 'The Cambridge C.C. 1829–1901' (1902). He compiled the articles on 'Public School Cricket' for Wisden's 'Cricketers' Almanack' (1896–1904) and in Prince Ranjitsinhji's 'Jubilee Book of Cricket' (1897). He also contributed articles to the 'Cyclopaedia of Sport' and to the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' and the chapter on 'Pyramids and Pool' to the Badminton volume on 'Billiards.'
Ford died of pneumonia at Abingdon Mansions on 3 April 1904, and was buried at Kensal Green. He married in 1887 Miss K. M. Browning, of Nelson, New Zealand.
[The Times, 4 and 6 April 1904; Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack, 1905; Haygarth's Cricket Scores and Biographies, 1879, xii. 747; xiv. xcii; Cricket, 17 June 1886 (with portrait); J. Pycroft's Cricket Chat, 1886 (with portrait).]
FORESTIER-WALKER, Sir FREDERICK WILLIAM EDWARD FORESTIER (1844–1910), general, born at Bushey on 17 April 1844, was eldest of the four sons of General Sir Edward Walter Forestier- Walker, K.C.B. (1812-1881), of the Manor House, Bushey, Hertfordshire, by his first wife, Lady Jane, only daughter of Francis Grant, sixth earl of Seafield. His grand-uncle was Sir George Townshend Walker, first baronet [q. v.]. Educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he entered the Scots Guards as lieutenant on 5 Sept. 1862, and was promoted captain on 11 July 1865. In 1866-7 he served as A.D.C. to the major-general at Mauritius, and from 1869 to 1873 he was adjutant of his regiment. On 1 Feb. 1873 he became lieutenant-colonel, and afterwards he made his first acquaintance with South Africa, where he was thenceforth employed for the greater part of his active career. From 1873 to 1879 he was on the staff at the Cape of Good Hope acting as assistant military secretary to the general officer there. In that capacity, or on special service, he was engaged in much active warfare in South Africa. In 1875 he served in the expedition to Griqualand West. During 1877-8 he was with lieut.-general Sir Arthur Cunynghame [q. v.] through the sixth Kaffir war. He was mentioned in despatches, and was made colonel on 15 Oct. 1878 and C.B. on 11 Nov. following. In the course of 1878 he became military secretary to Sir Bartle Frere, the high commissioner. Throughout the Zulu war of 1879, of which Frederic Augustus Thesiger, second baron Chelmsford [q. v. Suppl. II] was in chief command, Forestier-Walker was employed on special service. In the early stages of the campaign he was principal staff officer to No. 1 column, being present at the action of Inyezane and during the occupation of Ekowe. Subsequently he was on the line of communications and in command of Fort Pearson and the Lower Tugela district. He received the medal with clasp, and was mentioned in despatches (Lond. Gaz. 5 March, 18 May 1879). Returning to England, he was from 1 August to 14 Nov. 1882 assistant adjutant and quartermaster-general of the home district ; but from 12 Nov. 1884 till Dec. 1885 he was again in South Africa, serving with the Bechuanaland expedition under Sir Charles Warren as assistant adjutant and quartermaster-general. He was nominated C.M.G. on 27 Jan. 1886 and major-general on 31 Dec. 1887. From 1 April to Dec. 1890 he served as brigadier-general at Aldershot, and from 19 Dec. 1890 to 30 Sept. 1895 he was major-general commanding the troops in Egypt. On 26 May 1894 he was created K.C.B. for his services in Egypt. Subsequently he was lieut.-general commanding the western district of England from 1 Nov. 1895 to 18 Aug. 1899, with headquarters at Devonport. Shortly before the outbreak of the second Boer war it was decided to recall Sir William Butler [q. v. Suppl. II] from the command of the forces at the Cape, and the appointment was offered at very short notice to Forestier-Walker, who accepted it.
