The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Ball, Thomas
1819–1911, American sculptor, b. Charlestown, Mass.; son of a house and sign painter. Thomas Ball was also a singer of reputation, the first in the United States to sing the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Although he lived many years in Florence, Ball’s work remained distinctly American. He made portrait busts of many distinguished people. Among his works are the mounted figure of Washington in the Boston Public Gardens and a statue of Daniel Webster in Central Park, New York. His autobiography, My Three Score Years and Ten, appeared in 1890.
