Walter Ball

This article deals with the politician Walter Ball. For the mathematician Walter William Rouse Ball, see WW Rouse Ball .

Walter Ball († December 8, 1598 ) was Mayor of Dublin from 1580 to 1581 .

Walter Ball was the eldest son of Bartholomew Ball and Margaret Bermingham . In 1572 he was Sheriff of Dublin and in 1573 he was elected alderman . Unlike his parents, the Catholic faith didn't mean much to him and he converted to Anglicanism to improve his political ambitions. Ball wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and also become mayor of Dublin. For this it was necessary to renounce the Catholic faith and to recognize the Supreme Act . His mother was very upset when she found out about his plans and tried to change his mind. But none of the bishops, priests, or scholars whom she turned to help persuaded him to give up his political ambitions in favor of the salvation of his soul. This led to a lasting alienation between the two. In 1577 he was appointed Commissioner for Ecclesiastical Causes . Margaret Ball, however, invited her son more often so that he came into contact with bishops and priests who sought refuge there. Margaret Ball hoped that this would induce him to convert. However, these meetings also resulted in Walter obtaining information about clerics wanted by the authorities.

Shortly after his appointment as Mayor of Dublin in 1580, he had his mother and her chaplain arrested. The reason for this was the accommodation of clerics and the holding of masses. She was imprisoned in Dublin Castle and spent the rest of her life there. His brother Nicholas also became mayor of Dublin in 1582, but could not do anything about it, as Walter was still Commissioner for Ecclesiastical Causes and thus had more influence.

Web links

• Walter Ball on thepeerage.com , accessed August 19, 2015.