Alexander Ball, a rare quiet and diplomatic Navy officer, captained the Alexander (74) at the battle of the Nile. Nelson initially thought the bookish Ball both boring and ‘a great coxcomb’ for following the french fashion of wearing epaulettes on his Navy uniform, ten years before it was fashionable in England (I have circled the offending epaulettes on Pic 5). He was disappointed when the Alexander was the third ship (alongside the Vanguard (74) and the Orion (74)) sent on the initial Mediterranean scouting mission which turned into the hunt for Bonaparte.

During a storm on 21st of May that left the Vanguard mastless, Ball was ordered to abandon the flagship and save himself, but despite a set of increasingly ‘impetuous’ and ‘passionate’ threats from his Admiral, calmly refused and towed the Vanguard to safety - by doing so, saving both Nelson’s life and that of the entire crew. From then on, Ball became one of Nelson’s most important and trusted confidants, and his ‘dear, invaluable friend’ - his regular meeting of senior captains, always included the four most senior (Saumarez, Troubridge, Darby and Ball) specifically to include Ball. Nelson famously remarked: ‘who should ever tell me I want for a right arm, when I have three?’ - a reference to Berry, Troubridge and Ball.

The Alexander and the Swiftsure (74), Cpt Hallowell, were late to the battle as they had been scouting the harbour at Alexandria. Once they arrived they immediately attacked the flagship L’Orient (120). The Alexander was expertly anchored off Le Tonnant's (80) bow and L’Orients stern and engaged both. The flagship famously caught fire and exploded. Le Tonnant cut its cables and ran aground. His strengths forever being his diplomacy and ability to find compromises, Ball went on to play a major role in the liberation of Malta, a country that to this day remains part of the British common wealth. A monument to Ball stands in Valletta, overlooking the Mediterranean (pics 3 & 4).



The Nile Brothers (III) - Alexander Ball, 1756-1809