William Hall
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2008-05-30T17:01:42Z
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Update link to Legion Magazine article
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[[Image:Williamhall1.jpg|right|William Hall (1829-1906), Victoria Cross recipient]]
'''William Hall''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] ([[April 28]], [[1827]] – [[August 25]] [[1904]]) was the first black person, the first Nova Scotian, and third [[Canada|Canadian]]-born recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]]. Born at [[Horton's Bluff, Nova Scotia|Horton's Bluff]], [[Nova Scotia]], in 1827 as the son of freed [[United States|American]] [[Slavery in the United States|slaves]], at age 17 Hall joined the merchant navy as a seaman. Later, he volunteered for the [[Royal Navy]] at [[Liverpool]], [[England]], February 1852.
When the [[Indian Mutiny]] broke out in May 1857, Hall was on [[HMS Shannon (1855)|HMS ''Shannon'']] en route to [[China]]. She was intercepted and ordered to [[Calcutta]] (city has been renamed Kolkata). A Shannon Brigade was formed of several gunners, sailors, and marines, under Captain [[William Peel]]. The ship was towed over 600 miles up the [[Ganges River]] to [[Allahabad]]. Then the force fought across country to Campbell's headquarters at [[Cawnpore]] and were in time to take part in the relief of Lucknow.
On,while a hail of musket balls and grenades from the mutineers inside the mosque caused heavy casualties. Able Seaman Hall and the lieutenant ([[Thomas James Young]]) after a time, the only survivors, all the rest having been killed or wounded, and between them they loaded and served the person.
Hall remained with the Navy, rising to the rating of Quartermaster [[Petty Officer]] in [[HMS Peterel (1860)|HMS ''Peterel'']] before he retired in 1876.
== External links ==
*[http://museum.gov.ns.ca/infos/William-Hall-INfo.pdf Biography from the Nova Scotia Museum]
*[http://www.dacosta400.ca/cavalcade/williamhall.shtml
* [http://www.legionmagazine.com/en/index.php/2004/03/canada-and-the-victoria-cross-of-rebellion-and-rescue-2/ Legion Magazine article on William Hall]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11341159 Find-A-Grave profile for William Hall]
*[http://ns1763.ca/hantsco/hallmem.html Photos of William Hall monument at Hantsport, Nova Scotia]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, William}}
[[Category:1827 births]]
[[Category:1904 deaths]]
[[Category:Black Nova Scotians]]
[[Category:Canadian Victoria Cross recipients]]
[[Category:Descendants of Black Refugees (War of 1812)]]
[[Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 Victoria Cross recipients]]
[[Category:Naval history of Canada]]
[[Category:People from Hants County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:People of African American descent]]
[[Category:Pre-Confederation Nova Scotia people]]
[[Category:Royal Navy sailors]]
[[fr:William Hall]]