Volant Vashon Ballard
| Volant Vashon Ballard | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 4 January 1774 Ludlow, Shropshire |
| Died | 12 October 1832 (aged 58) Walcot, Bath, Somerset |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1786–1832 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | Napoleonic Wars |
Volant Vashon Ballard CB (bapt. 4 January 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.
Christened on 4 January 1774 at Ludlow, 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 Expedition 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 Europa based at Jamaica and it was here that he first met Lieutenant George Vancouver. Ballard's next posting was to Astraea 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 Monarch in June 1790 and eight months later on 28 February 1791 he joined Vancouver's expedition. He spent the entire voyage on 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.
After the Discovery voyage, Ballard passed his lieutenant's examination and was immediately commissioned on 6 November 1795. On 25 December 1798, while commanding the sloop Hobart, on the East India station, Ballard was promoted to captain and transferred to the 28-gun frigate Carysfort with which he remained until mid-1800. Ballard commanded the 36-gun fifth rate Jason 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 Berschermer before he, in July 1806, recommissioned Blonde, a 38-gun frigate captured from the French in 1782 and initially named Hebe.
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