Henry Lidgbird Ball

Who was Henry Lidgbird Ball?

Henry Lidgbird Ball was a Royal Navy officer, best known for discovering and exploring Lord Howe Island.

In 1788, having previously commanded HMS Supply, Lieutenant Ball commanded the vessel entrusted with shipping the first group of settlers from Botany Bay to Norfolk Island.

Between 1788 and 1790, Ball explored the area around Port Jackson and took part in the capture of the Aborigine, Arabanoo, on 31 December 1788, in addition to revisiting Lord Howe's Island, as it was then known, and Norfolk Island.

After falling ill in January 1791, Ball returned to England to convalesce. Leaving Australia in November 1791, he landed at Plymouth in April 1792 with the first kangaroo to be shipped to England on board his ship.

Ball returned to duty in December 1792 and was made a captain in 1795, in which position he served with distinction between 1795 and 1812, when he went on to half pay in semi-retirement. On 4 June 1814 Ball was promoted to rear admiral of the Blue.

Ball married Charlotte Foster on 17 June 1802 in London. She died a year later and, on 19 July 1810, at Kingston upon Thames, he married Anne Georgianna Henrietta Johnston. Ball had one daughter, Ann Maria.

He died on 22 October 1818 in Surrey, England.