Volant Vashon Ballard
Encyclopedia
Volant Vashon Ballard CB
(1774 – 12 October 1832) was a Rear-Admiral
of the Royal Navy
. He served as a midshipman with George Vancouver
on his voyage to the north-west coast of America
.
, Shropshire
, he was the second son of Humphrey Ballard and his wife Sarah (née Vashon). Ballard began his Royal Navy career as captain's servant to his uncle, Captain (later Admiral) James Vashon
on in April 1786. The Expedition was the flagship of Commodore (later Rear-admiral) Alan Gardner
. After four months Ballard moved with Vashon and Gardner to based at Jamaica
and it was here that he first met Lieutenant George Vancouver
. Ballard's next posting was to under Captain Peter Rainier, junior
(whose sister was the second wife of James Vashon). Ballard remained on the ship for a year before following Rainier to in June 1790 and eight months later on 28 February 1791 he joined Vancouver's expedition . He spent the entire voyage on HMS Discovery
beginning as an able seaman, then as a midshipman
from 1 June 1791 until 1 December 1792 when he transferred to be a clerk before again becoming a midshipman from 1 December 1794.
's examination and was immediately commissioned on 6 November 1795. On 25 December 1798, while commanding the sloop , on the East India station, Ballard was promoted to captain and transferred to the 28-gun frigate with which he remained until mid-1800. Ballard commanded the 36-gun fifth rate for two months in mid-1801. He then took over command of the 8-gun De Kuyter in December 1801 and sailed her to the West Indies to be based at Antigua
from August 1803 to mid-1804. For nearly two years, Ballard's next command was the 50-gun before he, in July 1806, recommissioned HMS Blonde a 38-gun frigate captured from the French in 1782 and initially named HMS Hebe.
Ballard departed in a convoy to the West Indies on 7 January 1807, and during that year captured seven French privateer
s including La Dame Villaret and the Hortenseiun in August, the Hirondelle and the Duquesne in September and the Alert in October. At the end of 1809, the Blonde was part of a light squadron off Basseterre
in the blockade of Guadaloupe. It is probably as a result of his actions over that period that the merchants of Barbados presented him with a silverplated tureen, four corner dishes and silver forks. On 18 December 1809, Commodore Samuel James Ballard
(no relation of Volant) in HMS Sceptre
assumed charge of the squadron. Two French ships were discovered moored in a strong position in Anse-la-Barque. The Blonde was deputed to lead the attack and bore the brunt of the action, which left the enemy frigates in flames. A fuller account of this action can be found in The Naval History of Great Britain. The action led to the capture of Guadeloupe and Volant Ballard was honourably mentioned. Two paintings depicting the action were bequeathed by Ballard in his will to his son Edward Humphrey. Ballard's last active service was briefly to captain from 1810 to 1811 and after his return to England he married Arabella Sarah Crabb, eldest daughter of James Crabb of Shedfield Lodge, Hampshire
and Arabella Sarah Grove Boucher, daughter of Richard Boucher of Corsham
, Wiltshire
, on 18 September 1811 at Droxford
, Hampshire.
Ballard was made a Companion of the Bath in 1815 and obtained his flag rank (rear-admiral) in May 1825 reaching Rear-Admiral of the Red by seniority before his death at his home in Cavendish Terrace, Walcot
near Bath on 12 October 1832. He was buried at the church of St Saviour, Walcot, Somerset
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(1774 – 12 October 1832) was a Rear-Admiral
Admiral (United Kingdom)
Admiral is a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-9, outranked only by the rank Admiral of the Fleet...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He served as a midshipman with George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
on his voyage to the north-west coast of America
Vancouver Expedition
The Vancouver Expedition was a four-and-a-half-year voyage of exploration and diplomacy, commanded by Captain George Vancouver. The expedition circumnavigated the globe, touched five continents and changed the course of history for the indigenous nations and several European empires and their...
.
Early career
Christened on 4 January 1774 at LudlowLudlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, he was the second son of Humphrey Ballard and his wife Sarah (née Vashon). Ballard began his Royal Navy career as captain's servant to his uncle, Captain (later Admiral) James Vashon
James Vashon
Sir James Vashon was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was first captain of HMS Dreadnought, between 1801 and 1802...
on in April 1786. The Expedition was the flagship of Commodore (later Rear-admiral) Alan Gardner
Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner
Admiral Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner was a British Royal Navy officer and peer of the realm. He became one of the Georgian era's most dashing frigate captains and, ultimately, a respected senior admiral.-Naval career:...
. After four months Ballard moved with Vashon and Gardner to based at Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and it was here that he first met Lieutenant George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
. Ballard's next posting was to under Captain Peter Rainier, junior
Peter Rainier, junior
Peter Rainier, Jr. was a British naval officer. Mount Rainier in Washington, USA, was named after him.-Biography:Rainier was born in England, the grandson of Daniel Regnier, a Huguenot refugee, and the son of Peter Rainier of Sandwich. He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1756 at the age of 15. He...
(whose sister was the second wife of James Vashon). Ballard remained on the ship for a year before following Rainier to in June 1790 and eight months later on 28 February 1791 he joined Vancouver's expedition . He spent the entire voyage on HMS Discovery
HMS Discovery (1789)
HMS Discovery was a Royal Navy ship launched in 1789 and best known as the lead ship in George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his famous 1791-1795 expedition. She was converted to a bomb vessel in 1798 and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen. Thereafter she...
beginning as an able seaman, then as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
from 1 June 1791 until 1 December 1792 when he transferred to be a clerk before again becoming a midshipman from 1 December 1794.
Command
After the Discovery voyage, Ballard passed his LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
's examination and was immediately commissioned on 6 November 1795. On 25 December 1798, while commanding the sloop , on the East India station, Ballard was promoted to captain and transferred to the 28-gun frigate with which he remained until mid-1800. Ballard commanded the 36-gun fifth rate for two months in mid-1801. He then took over command of the 8-gun De Kuyter in December 1801 and sailed her to the West Indies to be based at Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
from August 1803 to mid-1804. For nearly two years, Ballard's next command was the 50-gun before he, in July 1806, recommissioned HMS Blonde a 38-gun frigate captured from the French in 1782 and initially named HMS Hebe.
Ballard departed in a convoy to the West Indies on 7 January 1807, and during that year captured seven French privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
s including La Dame Villaret and the Hortenseiun in August, the Hirondelle and the Duquesne in September and the Alert in October. At the end of 1809, the Blonde was part of a light squadron off Basseterre
Basseterre
Basseterre , estimated population 15,500 in 2000, is the capital of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. Geographically, the Basseterre port is located at , on the south western coast of Saint Kitts Island, and it is one of the chief commercial depots of the Leeward Islands...
in the blockade of Guadaloupe. It is probably as a result of his actions over that period that the merchants of Barbados presented him with a silverplated tureen, four corner dishes and silver forks. On 18 December 1809, Commodore Samuel James Ballard
Samuel James Ballard
Samuel James Ballard was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy, baptised 28 March 1765 at St Thomas, Portsmouth, the son of Samuel Ballard, a burgess and chandler of Portsmouth, and Lydia née Flint daughter of James Flint of Epsom in Surrey.-Naval career:Ballard entered the navy in December 1776, under...
(no relation of Volant) in HMS Sceptre
HMS Sceptre (1802)
HMS Sceptre was a 74-gun third rate of the Royal Navy, built by Dudman of Deptford after a design by Sir William Rule, and launched in December 1802 at Deptford. She served in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 before being broken up in 1821....
assumed charge of the squadron. Two French ships were discovered moored in a strong position in Anse-la-Barque. The Blonde was deputed to lead the attack and bore the brunt of the action, which left the enemy frigates in flames. A fuller account of this action can be found in The Naval History of Great Britain. The action led to the capture of Guadeloupe and Volant Ballard was honourably mentioned. Two paintings depicting the action were bequeathed by Ballard in his will to his son Edward Humphrey. Ballard's last active service was briefly to captain from 1810 to 1811 and after his return to England he married Arabella Sarah Crabb, eldest daughter of James Crabb of Shedfield Lodge, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and Arabella Sarah Grove Boucher, daughter of Richard Boucher of Corsham
Corsham
Corsham is a historic market town and civil parish in north west Wiltshire, England. It is at the south western extreme of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 which was formerly the main turnpike road from London to Bristol, between Bath and Chippenham ....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, on 18 September 1811 at Droxford
Droxford
Droxford is a village in Hampshire, England, lying in the Meon valley, and lies around 3¾ miles east of Bishop's Waltham within the new South Downs National Park. The A32 passes through the village between Gosport and Alton...
, Hampshire.
Family and later life
The Ballards had the following children: Sarah Arabella (1812) married Captain later Admiral James Vashon Baker RN son of Joseph Baker who had also sailed with George Vancouver on the voyage to the Northwest coast of America; Harriett Vashon (1814) married Reverend Edward Elton; Volant Vashon (1816) married Emily Sarah Spencer Phillips ; James Boucher (1817) (became a captain in the Royal Navy in 1868); Edward Humphrey (1819) became the Roman Catholic chaplain in the Royal Navy; and George Frederick (1823) became a Roman Catholic priest.Ballard was made a Companion of the Bath in 1815 and obtained his flag rank (rear-admiral) in May 1825 reaching Rear-Admiral of the Red by seniority before his death at his home in Cavendish Terrace, Walcot
Walcot, Bath
Walcot is a suburb of the city of Bath, England. It lies to the north-north-east of the city centre, and is an electoral ward of the city.The parish church, on The Paragon is dedicated to St Swithin and was built in 1779-90 by John Palmer....
near Bath on 12 October 1832. He was buried at the church of St Saviour, Walcot, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.