John Ball (politician, 1818)

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John Ball

John Ball (born August 20, 1818 in Dublin , † October 21, 1889 in London ) was an Irish politician , scientist and high mountain hiker. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " Ball ".

education

John Ball was the eldest son of Irish judge Nicholas Ball and attended Oscott College near Birmingham and Christ's College in Cambridge . In his early years he showed an interest in the natural sciences, especially botany, and after graduating he traveled to the Swiss Alps and mainland Europe. He wrote treatises on botanical subjects and the Swiss glaciers, which he published in scientific journals.

politics

In 1846 he was appointed assistant to the Poor Law Commissioner, resigned a year later to run (unsuccessfully) as a candidate for parliament for the Irish county of Sligo in 1848 . In 1849 he was appointed second Poor Law Commissioner, and held this office until 1852 to - this time successfully - move into the British House of Commons as a liberal candidate for the Irish city of Carlow . There he reached the attention of Lord Palmerston (British statesman and Prime Minister) through his skills and in 1885 became Undersecretary of State for the Colonies. He held this office for two years.

In the colonial office he had a great influence on the expansion of scientific research, which he especially by equipping the Palliser expedition in Canada. For his efforts, the Ball Range was named after him and supported by William Jackson Hooker , who tried to systematically catalog the flora of the colonies.

alpinist

Peaks, Passes, and Glaciers , 1859, edited by John Ball

After running for the Irish city of Limerick in 1858 and losing, he devoted himself more to natural history. He was the first president of the Alpine Club from 1857 to 1860 - an association for the promotion of Alpine sport based in London. And it is mainly due to his work as an alpinist that he is remembered in this context. He was best known for the first ascent of Monte Pelmo in the Dolomites in 1857. His well-known alpine guide was the result of countless climbs, journeys and careful observations, which he related in a clear and often entertaining manner. This non-fiction book for alpine sports was published in 1859 under the title "Peaks, Passes and Glaciers". In 1871 he traveled to Morocco and in 1882 to South America. He described the impressions and explorations he gathered in books that were scientifically recognized.

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Ball, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Irish politician and scientist
DATE OF BIRTH August 20, 1818
PLACE OF BIRTH Dublin
DATE OF DEATH October 21, 1889
Place of death London