Valentine Ball

Valentine Ball (14 July 1843 – 15 June 1895) was an Irish geologist, son of Robert Ball (1802–1857) and a brother of Sir Robert Ball. Ball worked in the Geological Survey of India for twenty years before returning to take up a position in Ireland.

Early life and family Valentine was born in Dublin, the second son of Robert Ball and Amelia Gresley Hellicar. His siblings included Robert Stawell Ball, sisters Mary Agnetta (d. 1868), Amelia Charlotte (d. 1912), Annie Francis and surgeon Sir Charles Ball. He received his early education at Chester and later at the private schools of Dr Henry and Dr Benson at Dublin. He then went to the University of Dublin obtaining a B.A. in 1864, M.A. in 1872 and LL.D. in 1889.

Ball married Mary, the eldest daughter of John Stewart Moore, of Moyarget, Antrim in 1879. They had two daughters,

Ball died on 15 June 1895, having lived at 28 Waterloo Road since 1881. He was buried in Mount Jerome cemetery near the grave of his brother, Charles. arranging for his collections of Irish antiquities and Polynesian artifacts previously held in the Royal Irish Academy and Trinity College Dublin to be deposited in the new museum. Ball resigned from the directorship of the museum in 1895 due to ill-health. His writings included Jungle-Life in India (1880), The Diamonds, Coal, and Gold of India (1881), The Economic Geology of India (1881) and numerous notes to the journals. A list of 62 of his publications was included as an appendix to his book Jungle Life in India. A translation of Tavernier's Travels in India (1889) was published posthumously by his widow.

The National Museum of Ireland holds his collections along with a marble bust of Ball. The National Botanic Gardens hold his collection of Indian lichens, and his letters are held at Kew Gardens.

Publications Ball, V. 1874. On the avifauna of the Chutia, Nagpur Division S. W. frontier of Bengal. Stray Feathers 2: 355-440. Ball, V. 1877. Notes on birds observed in the region between Mahanadi and Godavari rivers. Stray Feathers 5: 410-420 Ball, V. 1878. From Ganges to the Godaveri, on the distribution of birds. Stray Feathers 7:191-235.

Ball, V. 1881. The Diamonds, Coal and Gold of India. Ball, V. 1885. On the identification of the animals and plants of India which were known to early Greek authors. The Indian Antiquary. 14:274-287, 303-311, 334-341. Posthumously published translation of Tavernier's writings Travels in India (1889). Volume IVolume II