- George Benson Hall
George Benson Hall (1780 –
January 9 1821 ) was a naval officer, businessman and political figure inUpper Canada .He was born in
Ireland in 1780 and served in theRoyal Navy during the time of theFrench Revolution . In 1802, he left the navy and worked on a merchant ship. When the ship became stranded in theSaint Lawrence River nearQuebec City , he accepted the position of mate on the government ship "Toronto". In 1804, he was given command of the "General Hunter" inLake Erie . In 1811, he became captain of the "Queen Charlotte". He set up residence in Amherstburg. In 1812, Major-GeneralIsaac Brock named Hall commodore of Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan. He commanded the batteries during the attack onDetroit 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 theLegislative 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.External links
* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=2907 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
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