Willis Hall (New York)

Willis Hall (April 1, 1801 Granville, Washington County, New York - July 14, 1868 New York City) was an American lawyer and politician.

Life

He was the son of Rev. Nathaniel Hall (1764-1820) and Hannah Emerson Hall (1773-1832). He graduated from Yale College in 1824, studied law in New York City and Litchfield, Connecticut. He was admitted to the bar in 1827, and practiced in Mobile, Alabama from 1827 to 1831, and then in New York City.

He was a Whig member of the New York State Assembly from New York County in 1838, and from Albany County in 1843. He was New York State Attorney General from 1839 to 1842, elected by the New York State Legislature after the Whigs obtained the majority at the 1838 elections.

In 1847, he was Councillor to the Board of Alderman of New York City

In 1848 he opposed the nomination of General Zachary Taylor as the Whig candidate for the presidency and supported Henry Clay, and retired from professional and political life after Clay's defeat.

He married Helen Haudley.

ources

* www.famousamericans.net/willishall/ Bio from Appleton's Encyclopedia, at Famous Americans
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/hall9.html] Political Graveyard
* [http://books.google.com.br/books?id=4KjxbNvtqnIC&pg=PA245 Google Book] "A Centurial history of the Mendon Association of Congregational Ministers" by Rev. Mortimer Blake (short bio on page 245, Boston, 1853)
* [http://www.oag.state.ny.us/previous_aglist.html] List of New York Attorneys General, at Office of the NYSAG