John Ward

John Ward (1805–1890) was an English diplomat.

Early life He was born on 28 August 1805 at East Cowes, where his father, John Ward, was collector of customs. His mother Martha was a sister of Thomas Arnold of Rugby. As a young man he associated with Arnold, Richard Whately and other liberals.

In 1831 Ward edited with Arnold the short-lived weekly The Englishman's Register, of which Arnold was the proprietor. He gave up the law, for which he had been trained, on his appointment in 1837 to an inspectorship of prisons. The following year, after some months as private secretary to John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, became through his influence secretary to the New Zealand Colonization Company.

Family Ward married Caroline, daughter of John Bullock, rector of Radwinter, Essex, who survived him until 1905. Their second son was Adolphus William Ward.