Sir charles was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1871 he was a senior moderator, and graduated B.A. In 1872 he grained the Senior Medical Exhibition and Travelling Prize, and in that same year also took the degrees of M.B., M.Ch. Three years later he became M.D. He also studied in Vienna. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 1879, and in 1900 received the honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, England. Among the numerous appointments held by Sir Charles were those of Honorary Surgeon to the King in Ireland, Regis Professor of the Royal Academy of Medicine, Ireland, Lord Chancellor's Consulting Surgical Visitor in Lunacy, and Medical referee for Dublin City and County under the Workmen's Compensation Act. In addition to being consulting surgeon to various Dublin hospitals, he was visiting surgeon to Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital; he was also consulting surgeon to the Masonic Girls' School and Simpson's Hospital. He was president of the Leinster Branch of the British Medical Association in 1903, and of the Section of Surgery of the annual meeting in 1905, when the Association met in Leicester. He was also a president of the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, taking a keen interest in the work of the society for many years. In 1903 he was knighted, and in 1911 was created a baronet. Soon after the outbreak of war, Sir Charles was made a temporary lieutenant-colonel, R.A.M.C. and was frequently present at the disembarkation of wounded soldiers brought to Dublin. At the time he was a member of the Advisory Board for the Army Medical Services. He died at his residence in Dublin. He was the youngest son of Robert Ball, L.L.D. and Amelia Gresley Ball; and the husband of Annie Julia Kinahan.