James Dyer Ball

He is noted for his works on Chinese culture and for contributing to the development of the system of Cantonese Romanisation.

Apart from preaching, his father ran a dispensary and opened a school in Canton, Guangzhou.

At age 7, Ball's family began three years of travel in Britain and the United States, returning to Canton in November 1858 where he received his secondary education before going on to King's College, London, and University College, Liverpool.

He retired in 1909 and died in 1919 in Enfield, Middlesex, England[1] Ball was considered the most capable and knowledgeable European speaker of Cantonese of his time.

Mr Ball is one of the most accomplished linguists in Hongkong ... and no more able pen could be found for the work of simplifying and popularizing the Chinese tongue.