Sidney Ball (20 April 1857 – 23 May 1918) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

academic and socialist activist. Born in

Pershore Pershore () is a market town and civil parish in the Wychavon district in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon, Warwickshire, River Avon. At the 2011 UK census, census, the population was 7,125. The town is best known for Per ...

, Ball was educated at Wellington College and then

Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is Colleges of the University of Oxford, a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title for ...

, where he graduated with a First in Classical Moderations (1877) and a Second in Literae Humaniores ('Greats, a combination of philosophy and ancient history) in 1879.'Oxford University Calendar 1895', Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1895: 223, 326 In 1882, he became a fellow of

St John's College, Oxford St John's College is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded as a men's college in 1555, it has been coeducational since 1979.Communication from Michael Riordan, college archivist Its foun ...

, and a tutor in 1885, later becoming St John's senior tutor. In 1886, Ball joined the

Fabian Society The Fabian Society () is a History of the socialist movement in the United Kingdom, British socialist organisation whose purpose is to advance the principles of social democracy and democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist effort in ...

, and he devoted much spare time to the group for the remainder of his life. He wrote "The Moral Aspects of Socialism", a tract published by the Fabians in 1896, and in 1907 was elected to the group's executive, with the support of

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...

. However, being based in Oxford, he found it difficult to attend regular meetings in London, and left the committee the next year. In 1895, Ball was a founding member of the Oxford University Fabian Society and remained a leading figure in the group until his death. In 1909, he was expected to win election as president of St John's, but was defeated after controversy over his socialist views. He was also the treasurer of the

Oxford Union The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, England, whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford. Founded in 1823, it is one of Britain's oldest unive ...

, a strong supporter of

Ruskin College Ruskin College, originally known as Ruskin Hall, Oxford, is a higher education institution and part of the University of West London, in Oxford, England. It is not a Colleges of the University of Oxford, college of Oxford University. Named ...

, and served for several years on the

Hebdomadal Council The Hebdomadal Council was the chief executive body for the University of Oxford from its establishment by the Oxford University Act 1854 until its replacement, in the Michaelmas term of 2000, by the new University Council. Chaired by the Vice- ...

. L. E. Jones makes reference to Ball in ''An Edwardian Youth'': .

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ball, Sidney 1857 births 1918 deaths Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford Fellows of St John's College, Oxford Members of the Fabian Society People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire People from Pershore