William Nelson Edward Hall
William Nelson Edward Hall was a notable figure in military history, recognized as the first Black person, Nova Scotian, and third Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross for valor. Born to formerly enslaved parents who gained freedom during the War of 1812, Hall's early life in Horton Bluff, Nova Scotia, was marked by his family's efforts to establish a stable life after escaping slavery. He began his seafaring career at the young age of sixteen, working in shipyards and eventually joining the United States Navy before serving in the British Royal Navy.
Hall distinguished himself during significant conflicts, including the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857, where his bravery during the Siege of Lucknow was pivotal for British forces. His achievements on the battlefield led to his receipt of the Victoria Cross in 1869, a prestigious military honor that brought him recognition decades later, particularly after a royal visit to Nova Scotia in 1901. After retiring as a Petty Officer in 1876, Hall lived a quiet life until his passing in 1904. Despite being buried in an unmarked grave, his legacy has been honored in recent years with commemorations, including a stamp, a highway renaming, and the naming of a naval vessel in his honor.
On this Page
Subject Terms
William Nelson Edward Hall
Seaman
- Born: April 25, 1829
- Birthplace: Horton Bluff (now Lockhartville), Nova Scotia
- Died: August 25, 1904
- Place of death: Hantsport, Nova Scotia
Also known as: William Neilson Hall
Significance: William Hall was the first Black person, first Nova Scotian, and first naval recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valor in the face of the enemy given in the British Empire. He was the third Canadian and the first Black man in the British Empire to receive this honor.
Background
William Hall was born to Jacob and Lucy Hall, who had been enslaved. The two were recognized as free people by the Royal Navy during the War of 1812. Some sources say that the two lived in Maryland when they were freed, and others say they were still on a ship headed from Africa toward the United States. They made their way to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on British warships along with hundreds of other people who escaped slavery. The two moved to Horton Bluff, where Hall’s father eventually became a sailor and worked at shipbuilding yards. He took the last name of his employer, Peter Hall. Hall’s father also was a master carpenter and had built a timber and shipping business. He and Lucy eventually raised enough money to buy a small farm. They had seven children, including William.
William attended the local school and then worked in Hantsport shipyards for several years. He took to the sea at an early age, leaving Nova Scotia for the first time at age sixteen aboard a merchant vessel. By eighteen years old, he had already been to some of the world’s most important ports.
Life at Sea
Hall served several years in the merchant navy before joining the United States Navy in the spring of 1848. He served until May 1850 and went back to being a merchant sailor. In February 1852, he joined the British Royal Navy. He first worked aboard the HMS Rodney. During the Crimean War (1853–1856) he was part of a naval brigade that operated heavy gun batteries on land. He took part in the siege of Sevastopol, Ukraine, and the battle of Inkerman, receiving medals for his service in both battles.
In 1856, Hall was assigned to HMS Shannon. In 1857, an Indian mutiny, which would be known as the First War of Independence in India, broke out. Indian rebels soon seized Delhi and Cawnpore (Kanpur) and surrounded a British garrison. HMS Shannon had just completed a voyage to Hong Kong and headed for Calcutta (Kolkata) to try to control the revolt. Hall joined about 475 marines and sailors that fought against India. They arrived in Allahabad, where they were joined by 280 more sailors before traveling on foot to Cawnpore. They then continued to Lucknow. The approximately 60,000 rebels at Lucknow were protected by a large mosque with thick walls. Hall’s naval brigade tried to breach the wall and the rebels fired on British crews. Eventually, only Hall and Lieutenant Thomas Young remained standing for the British forces. The two men worked together to load and fire a heavy cannon, a task that usually required the work of about six people. Their work resulted in a breach in the wall that allowed a few infantry soldiers to enter the mosque. By that time, the rebels had fled, and the siege had ended.
Hall went on to serve on many more ships after that and was known for being an excellent sailor. When he was assigned to the HMS Shannon, he was appointed captain of the foretop. This was an important position, responsible for the men who furled, unfurled, and rigged the mast. In 1860, he was selected as a crew member for the HMS Hero, the ship that brought Prince Edward (later King Edward VII) to North America for the first royal tour of the continent. The crew of decorated sailors had been handpicked. Later in his service, Hall likely trained new naval recruits. He also served on the HMS Impregnable and HMS Bellerophon. Hall retired as a Petty Officer, First Class in 1876.
Impact
Hall and Young’s actions in Lucknow were key to helping the British win the battle, and they were awarded the Victoria Cross for their steadfastness and courage. Hall received the honor on October 28, 1869, while aboard the HMS Donegal in Queenstown Harbour, Ireland. This made him the first Black man, the first seaman, and the first Nova Scotian to earn this honor, which is Canada’s highest award for military valor and the British Empire’s highest honor for bravery.
Few people knew about Hall until 1901 when the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V) visited Nova Scotia. Hall attended the duke’s parade, wearing his medals, and the future king took notice. The two talked and George drew attention to Hall’s achievements.
In the twenty-first century, Hall received more honors. Canada Post honored him with a commemorative stamp in 2010. Also that year, a connector route in his hometown of Hantsport was renamed to William Hall V.C. Memorial Highway. In June 2015, the Royal Canadian Navy honored Hall by naming its fourth Arctic patrol vessel HMCS William Hall. Hall’s medals are now at the Nova Scotia Museum in Halifax.
Personal Life
After retiring from the British Royal Navy, Hall returned to Nova Scotia, where he lived in a small farmhouse with his sisters Rachel and Mary. He remained in relative obscurity until passing away in 1904. Hall was buried in an unmarked grave without military honors in a nearby churchyard, and his grave was neglected. In 1945, he was reburied next to a Baptist church near Hantsport. Two years later, a cairn was built to serve as a permanent memorial.
Bibliography
“Able-Seaman William Neilson Edward Hall.” Government of Canada, 19 Feb. 2017, www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/people-and-stories/victoria-cross/william-hall. Accessed 23 June 2023.
Boileau, John, and de Bruin, Tabitha. “William Neilson Hall.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 17 Dec. 2021, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-neilson-hall. Accessed 23 June 2023.
“Hall, William.” Black Canadian Veterans Stories, 17 Feb. 2022, www.blackcanadianveterans.com/post/hall-william. Accessed 23 June 2023.
“Hall, William Neilson National Historic Person.” Parks Canada Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, www.biographi.ca/en/bio/hall‗william‗1829‗1904‗13E.html. Accessed 23 June 2023.
Knight, Ryan. “Lest We Forget – Victoria Cross Winner William Hall.” Afro Caribbean Business Network, 7 Nov. 2022, acbncanada.com/lest-we-forget-victoria-cross-winner-william-hall/. Accessed 23 June 2023.
Pachai, Bridglal. “Hall, William.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13, 1994, www.biographi.ca/en/bio/hall‗william‗1829‗1904‗13E.html. Accessed 23 June 2023.
“The Adventures of William Hall, VC.” The History Guy, 26 Oct. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZPjecMH0-A. Accessed 23 June 2023.
“William Nelson Hall, VC.” Hantsport Families, 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZPjecMH0-A. Accessed 23 June 2023.