In 1866 he was appointed professor of history and English literature in Owens College, Manchester, and was principal from 1890 to 1897, when he retired. In 1898, Ward delivered the Ford Lectures at Oxford University. He took an active part in the foundation of Victoria University, of which he was vice-chancellor from 1886 to 1890 and from 1894 to 1896. In 1897 the freedom of the city of Manchester was conferred upon him, and on 29 October1900 he was elected master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.1