BALL, SIR ALEXANDER JOHN, BART. British rear-admiral and governor of Malta, came of a Gloucester shire family. He entered the navy, and in 1778 was promoted lieutenant. Three years later began a close association with Rod ney, and, two days after his chief's crowning victory of April 12 1782, Ball was promoted commander, and in 1783 he became captain. At this time he spent a year in France with the double purpose of learning the language and living economically. Nelson, then a captain, was at this time, by no means favourably impressed by his future friend and comrade, and spoke of him as a "great coxcomb." It was not until 1790 that Ball received a command. From that year, however, he was continuously employed. In 1798 he rendered assistance to Nelson's ship in heavy weather, and from that time the two were close friends. Ball served under Nelson in the battle of the Nile, and his ship, the "Alexander," was the particular opponent of Brueys' flagship, "L'Orient," which blew up. Two months later he was ordered to the blockade of Malta, which was kept up without a break for the next two years. After the fall of Malta, Ball practically retired from the service, in spite of Nelson's urgent entreaty that he should continue afloat, and from 18o 1 (when he was made a baronet) to he was governor of Malta, where he endeared himself to the people by his regard for their interests, and his opposition to the policy of treating the island as a conquered dependency. He died on Oct. 20 1809, and was buried in Malta. Sir Alexander Ball befriended Coleridge and is highly praised by him in The Friend, "The Third Landing Place."