George Benson Hall
Encyclopedia
George Benson Hall was a naval officer, businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Ireland
in 1780 and served in the Royal Navy
during the time of the French Revolution
. In 1802, he left the navy and worked on a merchant ship. When the ship became stranded in the Saint Lawrence River
near Quebec City
, he accepted the position of mate on the government ship Toronto. In 1804, he was given command of the General Hunter in Lake Erie
. In 1811, he became captain of the Queen Charlotte. He set up residence in Amherstburg
. In 1812, Major-General Isaac Brock
named Hall commodore of Lakes Erie, Huron
and Michigan
. He commanded the batteries during the attack on Detroit in 1812. In 1813, when the officers of the Royal Navy arrived, he was named superintendent of the dockyard and naval stores at Amherstburg. In 1816, he was elected as a representative for Essex
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
and was named a justice of the peace in the Western District. He also served in the local militia, becoming major. He set up business at Amherstburg, selling hardware and construction supplies. He died there in 1821.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1780 and served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the time of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. In 1802, he left the navy and worked on a merchant ship. When the ship became stranded in the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
near Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, he accepted the position of mate on the government ship Toronto. In 1804, he was given command of the General Hunter in Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
. In 1811, he became captain of the Queen Charlotte. He set up residence in Amherstburg
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
. In 1812, Major-General Isaac Brock
Isaac Brock
Major-General Sir Isaac Brock KB was a British Army officer and administrator. Brock was assigned to Canada in 1802. Despite facing desertions and near-mutinies, he commanded his regiment in Upper Canada successfully for many years...
named Hall commodore of Lakes Erie, Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
and Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. He commanded the batteries during the attack on Detroit in 1812. In 1813, when the officers of the Royal Navy arrived, he was named superintendent of the dockyard and naval stores at Amherstburg. In 1816, he was elected as a representative for Essex
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
and was named a justice of the peace in the Western District. He also served in the local militia, becoming major. He set up business at Amherstburg, selling hardware and construction supplies. He died there in 1821.