Editing Alexander Ball (section)

==Early naval experience==
Ball entered the [[Royal Navy]], and on 7 August 1778, was promoted lieutenant. Three years later he began a close association with Sir [[George Rodney]]. Ball was promoted commander on 14 April 1782, two days after his chief's [[Battle of the Saintes|crowning victory]], and took command of {{HMS|Germaine|1781|2}}. On 20 March 1783 he became captain. With peace restored, Ball was furloughed on half-pay.  He then spent a year in [[France]], hoping to learn the language and live economically. Captain [[Horatio Nelson]] was at this time by no means favourably impressed by his future friend and comrade, and described Ball as a "great coxcomb".

In 1790, Ball received a command and from then on he was continuously employed. In May 1798, Ball commanded {{HMS|Alexander|1778|6}} in the [[Mediterranean]]. Once when Nelson's {{HMS|Vanguard|1787|6}} had lost her fore- and topmasts, Ball towed Vanguard to Sardinia.<ref>Abela, A.E.  ''Governors of Malta'', Malta, 1991 {{ISBN|99909-3-008-2}} p. 2</ref> Under Nelson's command, Ball took part in the [[Battle of the Nile]], and his ship, the ''Alexander'', was the second British ship to fire on [[François-Paul Brueys D'Aigalliers|the French Admiral's]] flagship, [[French ship Orient (1791)|''L’Orient'']], which later blew up during the battle.