the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (now known as the Royal Society of Arts), in 1807. It was awarded for a design for the improvement of the durability of anchors, as well as a way of raising them, that he believed would reduce accidents to the crew and ships. In early April 1809 Ball was commander of the 80-gun third rate ship of the line . Gibraltar joined the fleet of Admiral Lord Gambier in blockading the French at Battle of the Basque Roads. Crew from Gibraltar helped to man the fireships of Captain Lord Cochrane's attack on 11 April, with Lieutenant John Cookesley injured and Master's mate John Conyers killed. Gibraltar was part of Gambier's fleet that tried to capture or destroy the French vessels, until the battle came to an end on 29 April. On 3 August, Ball was called as a witness on the eighth day of the Court-martial of James, Lord Gambier which assessed whether Gambier had failed to support Cochrane at the Battle of Basque Roads. Ball testified in Gambier's favour, with the verdict clearing Gambier of all charges on 4 August. In April 1812 Ball became flag captain to Rear-Admiral Philip Charles Durham in the 80-gun off Texel, until December 1813, with Christian VII being removed from active service. Ball then went on half-pay in semi-retirement. On 4 June 1814 Ball was promoted to flag rank as rear-admiral of the blue. Personal life Ball married twice. His first marriage was on 17 June 1802, to Charlotte Forster, who died a year later in 1803. On 19 July 1810, Ball was married for a second time to Anne Georgianna Henrietta Johnston, who was 31 years his junior. She survived him and died in 1864. Neither marriage produced any children. Ball had one daughter, Anne Maria, born 1789 on Norfolk Island to Sarah Partridge (also known as Sarah Roberts), a convict sentenced to 7 years' transportation, for shoplifting on 14 January 1784, transported with the First Fleet in the Lady Penrhyn. Anne Maria was baptised on 22 August 1789 at Sydney. As Partridge's sentence had expired by the time Ball returned to England, it's believed that Partridge and his daughter returned with him on Supply. Anne Maria married Joseph Freeman Rattenbury, of Gray's Inn, on 24 July 1810. Ball's sister Mary made "my niece 'Ann Maria her heir in 1820. Death and legacy Ball retired