British gardener and forester from Stanmore, Middlesex. He was appointed Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department, Hongkong and given the title of 'Government Gardener' (1871-1902). Ford was instrumental in the creation of the first herbarium in Hong Kong (HK), proposed as early as 1872 and established in 1878. His own collections form the basis of HK but he also sent material to H.F. Hance and G.T. Sampson, which was incorporated in their personal herbaria and later acquired by BM. The genus Fordia Hemsl. was named in his honour.