David Hall (January 4, 1752 – September 18, 1817) was an American lawyer and politician from Lewes, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served as Governor of Delaware.
David Hall | |
|---|---|
| File:Delaware state seal.png Governor of Delaware | |
| Governor of Delaware | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 4, 1752 Lewes, Delaware |
| Died | February 21, 1815 Lewes, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Catherine Tingley |
| Residence(s) | Lewes, Delaware |
Early life and family
Hall was born January 4, 1752 in Lewes, Delaware, son of David and Mary Kollock Hall. His grandfather, Nathaniel Hall, known as "the Indian Fighter," came to Delaware from Connecticut in 1700. His father, David Hall, Sr. was a well known farmer from around Lewes, who was a Justice of the Peace and a frequent member of the Colonial Assembly from 1753 until the American Revolution. In 1776, David Jr. married Catherine Tingley, daughter of Samuel Tingley, the Anglican Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. They had six children: Elizabeth, Mary, Jane, Catherine, Lydia, and Martha. In time he built a home at 107 Kings Highway, across the road from the Zwaanandael Museum. They were members of the Lewes Presbyterian Church.
American Revolution
Hall studied law and was admitted to the Bar in New Castle, Delaware in 1773. Already a member of the Sussex County militia under General Dagworthy, he joined the 1st Delaware Regiment at the beginning of the American Revolution and served as Captain under Colonel John Haslet at the battles of Long Island and White Plains. Following Haslet's death at Princeton in January 1777, he became the leader of the Regiment, and was promoted to Colonel in April 1777. He led the Regiment at the Battle of Brandywine and again at the Battle of Germantown where he was wounded on October 4, 1777. The following year he spent recovering, recruiting new soldiers in Wilmington and serving on Courts Martial. He returned to active service in June 1779 at the Middlebrook encampment, spent the inactive summer with the regiment, but returned home in October 1779, complaining of his wound and lack of provisioning. When the Delaware Regiment went to South Carolina in April 1780, Hall did not go. Responding to his continuing requests, the General Assembly authorized some payment, but it was never enough, and finally, in April 1782, Hall resigned his commission.
Political career
Meanwhile Hall pursued his law practice in Lewes and entered politics. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat-Republican, like most Presbyterians, but in Anglican Lewes, he must have been very much in the minority. He was badly beaten by Federalist Richard Bassett, when he ran for Governor in 1798. Running again in 1801 against Episcopalian Nathaniel Mitchell, a professed "Deist," and a person openly critical of Methodists. Hall emphasized his Presbyterian faith, and in spite of losing Kent and Sussex Counties again badly, he won Presbyterian New Castle County by such a large margin that he carried the state by 18 votes. The Federalists considered using the recently passed Alien and Sedition Acts to try and nullify some of the recent immigrant New Castle County vote, but with their continued control of the General Assembly, they grudgingly "allowed" him to take office.
Hall served as Governor from January 19, 1802 until January 15, 1805. During this time Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours bought the old Jacob Broom cotton mills on Brandywine Creek and began his gunpowder business. This was also the point of the greatest abolitionist sentiment in Delaware, when the General Assembly failed by one vote to enact a gradual emancipation bill.
Several years later, in 1812, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House seat won by the Federalist candidate Thomas Cooper. The next year he was name a Judge in the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.
Death and legacy
Hall died September 18, 1817 at Lewes, Delaware, and is buried in the Lewes Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Lewes.
Public offices
Before 1831 Delaware elections were held the first week of October. The Governor took office the third Tuesday in January, for a term of three years.
Election results
References
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Cedar Tree Books, Wilmington. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. McClafferty Press, Wilmington.
- Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
- Scharf, John Thomas. (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. L. J. Richards & Co., Philadelphia.
- Pickett, Russell S. Delaware and U.S. History.
External links
- The Political Graveyard. David Hall.
- Lewes Presbyterian Church. History.
Places with more information
- University of Delaware Library 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965.
- Newark Free Library 750 Library Ave.,Newark Delaware (302) 731-7550.
- Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library 2nd and High St. Odessa Delaware (302)378-8838.
- Historical Society of Delaware 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161.