He is an alien from a planet near Betelgeuse who has stranded on the earth fifteen years ago. (p.10) Ford is not very tall, his features are striking but not too handsome.
His hair is wiry and gingerish and brushed back from the temples. Ford`s skin seems to be pulled backwards from his nose. He has got a very broad smile and doesn`t blink. (p.9) Ford has also got some oddish habbits, like being an eccentric or getting badly drunk on parties. Furthermore he doesn`t understand irony or sarcasm unless he is concentrating because they don`t have that on Betelgeuse. (p.11)

Ford is a researcher for the Hitchhiker`s Guide to the Galaxy ;but after being stranded on the earth (which he thinks is very dull) for so long  he wants to go back home. Ford also wants to leave becausehe knows that the earth is going to be destroyed. (p.16)

He wants to take his best friend on earth, Athur Dent, with him. (p.16)

Ford has got a semi-cousin : Zaphod Beeblebrox. He is the president of the galaxy. (p.91)