Alexander Ball

Sir Alexander John Ball

Sir Alexander John Ball, 1st Baronet (born July 22, 1757 in Ebworth Park, Sheepscombe , Gloucestershire , † October 20, 1809 in San Anton Palace , Malta ), was a British admiral and first Governor of Malta ( Civil Commissioner of Malta ) .

Life

Origin and youth

Alexander John Ball was born in Ebworth Park, Sheepscombe , Gloucestershire in 1757 , the fourth son of Robert and Mary (Dickinson) Ball.

Early military career

Sea battle at Abukir, painting by Thomas Luny

Ball entered the Royal Navy and was made a lieutenant on August 7, 1778, at the age of 22 . Three years later he began working closely with Sir George Rodney . Ball was named commander on April 14, 1782, three days after Rodney's victory at the Battle of Les Saintes . On March 20, 1783, he was appointed captain . After the end of the American Revolutionary War , he was put on half pay. Ball then lived in France for a year to learn the language and to be able to lead an adequate life. Nelson met his future friend and comrade at this time, but was in no way impressed by him. He described him as a "big dump ".

In 1790 Ball was again given command in the Royal Navy. In May 1798, Ball commanded HMS Alexander in the Mediterranean . When Nelson's HMS Vanguard lost the fore and main mast in a heavy storm in May 1798, Ball towed the Vanguard to Sardinia . Under Nelson's command, Ball took part in the sea ​​battle at Abukir . The Alexander was the second ship to open fire on the French flagship L'Orient .

Malta

Alexander Ball was an important figure in the diplomatic and military events that brought Malta under British rule . Ball visited the islands for the first time on October 12, 1798 and by then it was already enjoying great popularity among the Maltese population. His mission was to support the blockade of French troops in Malta, which was supported by parts of the Portuguese fleet.

Ball's charisma also made him popular among the leaders of the Maltese uprising. Since on the one hand the population of the island was not yet striving for independence at this time, and on the other hand the return of the Johanniter was feared, a solution had to be found for the time after the surrender of the French occupiers. The fear of the knights indirectly drove the island into a British protectorate . Ball seemed a suitable leader in the aftermath of the French surrender. Vincenzo Borġ , one of the leaders of the uprising, wrote to Ball:

"The vast majority of us wish to see the islands fall under English jurisdiction"

"The vast majority of us wish to see the islands fall under British rule"

- Vincenzo Borġ

The history of Malta was shaped by the events in Europe at that time. Napoleon's troops conquered Naples in 1799 and forced King Ferdinand IV , who was the liege lord of the Order of St. John in Malta, with his family to flee. For many Maltese now only the United Kingdom of Malta could guarantee security. During this time there were clashes between supporters of the Neapolitans and Great Britain. Ball managed to calm the situation down. This led to his election as President of the Maltese National Assembly on February 7, 1799. At Ball's request, the name was changed from National Assembly to National Congress to emphasize the need for compromise and the provisional nature of the assembly. Great Britain claimed control of the islands, but open occupation was to be avoided. The increasingly precarious situation, exacerbated by the return of King Ferdinand IV to the throne, led to a reinforcement of the British troops in Malta. Nelson wrote to Ball in January 1799:

“... Respecting the situation of Malta with the King of Naples, it is this - he is the legitimate Sovereign of the Island: therefore, I am of opinion his flag should fly. At the same time, a Neapolitan garrison would betray it to the first man who would bribe him. I am sure the King would have no difficulty in giving his Sovereignty to England; and I have lately, with Sir William Hamilton, got a Note that Malta should never be given to any Power without the consent of England ...

PS - In case of the Surrender of Malta, I beg you will not do anything which can hurt the feelings of their majesties. Unite their Flag with England's, if it cannot, from the disposition of the Islanders, fly alone. "

“Considering the situation of Malta and the King of Naples: it is so, he is the legitimate ruler of the island, so I think his flag should be flown. At the same time a Neapolitan garrison would betray him to the first best. I am sure that the King would have no difficulty in handing over his sovereignty to England, and I received a note the other day, along with Sir William Hamilton, that Malta should never be given over to a foreign power without the consent of England. PS - In the event of Malta's surrender, I hope that they will do nothing to offend His Majesty's feelings. Unite your flag with that of England, if that is not possible due to the mood of the islanders, you can fly alone ”

The besieged French troops in Valletta were threatened with famine when a French auxiliary squadron was intercepted by the Royal Navy off Lampedusa . The commander of the French troops then capitulated to the British commanders Captain George Martin and Major General Henry Pigot . As the elected representative of the Maltese people, Ball was denied participation in the negotiations, while the representatives of Naples were excluded for diplomatic reasons. The French were allowed to withdraw with all honors. A few days later, Ball and the Maltese moved into the liberated capital.

In February 1801 Ball was appointed commissioner of the Royal Navy in Gibraltar and left Malta. Power of the island was taken over by Major General Henry Pigot, whose tyrannical administration caused great anger among the local population, as Ball wrote in a letter to Nelson in June 1799. Ball reported that the Maltese would have revolted against Pigot if Ball had not promised to forward their complaints to the relevant authorities. Nelson wrote back to Ball on June 4, 1801:

“My dear, invaluable friend, ... believe me, my heart entertains the very warmest affection for you, and it has been no fault of mine, and not a little mortification, that you have not the red ribbon and other rewards that would have kept you afloat; but as I trust the war is at an end, you must take your flag when it comes to you, for who is to command our fleets in a future war? ... I pity the poor Maltese; they have sustained an irreparable loss in your friendly counsel and an able director in their public concerns; you were truly their father, and, I agree with you, they may not like stepfathers .... Believe me at all times and places, for ever your sincere, affectionate, and faithful friend. "

“My dear, invaluable friend ... believe me, my heart has the warmest affection for you, and it was not my fault and no small humiliation that you did not receive the red ribbon and other rewards to show you Hold board; but I hope the war is over, you must grab the flag when it comes to you, who is it to command our fleet in a future war? ... I pity the poor Maltese, they have suffered a lasting and irreplaceable loss in your kind advice and lost a capable leader in their public concerns, you really were their father, and I agree with you, they do not like stepfathers ... Believe me at all times and places, forever your warm, loving, and faithful friend. "

The British were unsure of their policy towards Malta. While Napoleon was on the rise in Europe, they couldn't afford problems with their allies over the islands. The appointment of Charles Cameron as Civil Commissioner in May 1801 did not remove this indecision, although his presence guaranteed UK protection. When, in the Peace of Amiens, the island was supposed to come under the rule of the Johanniter again, this guarantee was no longer valid.

Ball was given the hereditary title of Baronet , of Blofield in the County of Norfolk, on June 24, 1801 in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom . The British government sent him as Minister Plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty for the Order of Saint John (Plenipotentiary Minister of His British Majesty for the Order of Saint John) again to Malta to the departure of the British under the provisions coordinating the Treaty of Amiens. Ball was reappointed Civil Commissioner and remained in that post until his death. However, the situation quickly changed as the threat of another war between England and France increased. Ball now received orders to delay the withdrawal of British troops. Napoleon was concerned about the British fleet in Grand Harbor . He said he would rather see the British own a Parisian suburb than own Malta. In May 1803 war broke out again because of the British refusal to leave the islands. After the Napoleonic Wars , Malta and all its possessions fell under British rule following the resolutions of the Congress of Vienna .

Monument to Sir Alexander Ball in the Lower Barrakka Gardens

Despite Nelson's wishes, he practically retired from the Royal Navy. Although he was appointed rear admiral very late in 1805, he received no command as admiral. Sir Alexander Ball was probably the British politician most loved by the Maltese people. Samuel Taylor Coleridge , who became Ball's assistant in 1804, described him as a truly great man in his memoirs, The Friend . However, his care for the Maltese people was viewed as imprudent and unjust by many of the English settlers and immigrants. Ball insisted, however, on the position that England had received the island largely through the help of the Maltese and could only hold it through their free will, considering them as fellow citizens. Ball was respected and respected by the population. The passers-by on the streets took off their headgear when he passed them, the usual noise in the markets died when he appeared and was replaced by cheers and storms of enthusiasm.

Ball died on October 25, 1809 at the San Anton Palace in Attard and was buried in Malta. A monument in the form of a classical temple was erected in his memory in the Lower Barrakka Gardens in Valletta in 1810. His son William Keith Ball (1791–1874) inherited his title of nobility as 2nd baronet.

Individual evidence

1. ^ AE Abela: Governors of Malta. Malta 1991, ISBN 99909-3-008-2 , p. 2.
2. ↑ Jesmond Grech: Malta taħt l-Ingliżi. Malta 1997, ISBN 99909-75-18-3 , Chapter II, p. 7.
3. ↑ Michael Galea: Sir Alexander John Ball and Malta: The Beginning of an Era. Malta 1990, OCLC 36363847 .
4. ↑ ^{a b c} Sir Alexander Ball. Retrieved May 22, 2007 . 

literature

• Encyclopædia Britannica. 11th edition.

Web links

• Material on Alexander John Ball in the UK National Register of Archives

predecessor	Office	successor
-	President of the Maltese National Congress 1798–1799	-
Office newly created	Civil Commissioner of Malta 1799–1801	Henry Pigot
Sir Charles Cameron	Civil Commissioner of Malta 1802–1809	Sir Hilderbrand Oakes