Born: Wallingford, Connecticut, April 12,1724
Burke County, Ga. October 19, 1790 A physician who moved to Georgia from Connecticut by way of South Carolina, Hall was selected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress (1774), but did not attend because he did not represent a majority of Georgians. Georgia refused to join the continental association, intended to enforce the boycott of British goods and the exportation of goods to colonies did import British goods. As a result, Hall led the effort in St. John's Parish to attempt to secede from Georgia and join South Carolina. In May, 1775, Hall arrived at the Second Continental Congress, but refused to vote because he felt he still did not think he represented a majority of Georgians. Hall brought food and money for the relief of Massachusetts, beleaguered by the revolt, rarely participated in the debate, but worked energetically on the committees to which he was appointed.

In 1776, joined by Button Gwinnett and George Walton, Hall signed the Declaration of Independence. Although elected to the congress through 1780, he left Philadelphia in 1777 to return to Georgia. He supported Gwinnett in his fight with fellow Georgian Lachlan McIntosh, and was executor of Gwinnett's will. Hall, an enemy of the crown after signing the Declaration, was accused of high treason and had both his Savannah houses burned after the British occupation. He fled the state until the British left, later returning to Georgia.

Elected governor by the assembly, Hall inspired the electorate into a frenzy of school and church building with his inaugural address according to papers of the day. He proposed giving state land grants to build colleges which eventually resulted in the formation of the present day university system. After his term as governor he served in the assembly and as judge. Hall County in North Georgia is named in his honor.

Letter to Hall from Archibald Bulloch

County: Hall County

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