Richard Lyman Hall Research Paper

On April 12, 1724, in Wallingford, Connecticut, Lyman Hall was born to the Honorable John Hall and his wife, Mary. His great-great-grandfather, Richard Lyman, moved to America in 1621, leaving England behind. After graduating from Yale in 1747, Hall studied theology, taught by his uncle, Reverend Samuel Hall. He began preaching and was ordained by the Fairfield West Consociation, but was then dismissed in 1751 due to charges of immoral conduct. After confessing to his wrong deeds, he was restored to the position. After preaching for two years, Hall decided to study medicine, soon receiving a doctorate in that field. After being widowed from his first marriage, Hall married Mary Osborn. They moved back to Wallingford where Hall began practicing medicine. Due to the success of
a group of Puritans who had previously moved to South Carolina to found churches, Hall moved there with a group of other families between 1754-55. He later moved again, this time to Georgia. There he became a plantation owner, and due to the location of the land, sickness was apparent year-round. Hall was able to aid his neighbors, putting his doctorate in medicine to work. He built a summer home in the area so he could still attend to his patients. He because extremely popular with them, not only as their doctor, but as a person in general. As political issues between England and America grew, Hall boldly stood for separation from England.
He soon became the leader for the Puritans in St. John’s Parish. However, there was division on this view among the Georgians and because of this, along with the Governor’s faithfulness to the king, the state was not represented in the Continental Congress. This lack of representation resulted in a lack of Georgia delegates being appointed. This was an issue specifically for the Puritans, so as their representative, Hall attended meetings in Savannah for the “Friends of Liberty.” These meetings led him to become an ally to Button Gwinnett in the need for representation to the Continental Congress. After failing in a couple of different attempts to bypass Savannah’s ruling, Hall was sent to be the independent delegate of the Puritans at the Continental Congress. He arrived in Philadelphia on May 13, 1775 and presented his credentials, getting unanimously admitted as a delegate. Until Georgia was fully represented a few months later, Hall did not vote on issues that were decided by colonies. Hall voted for the Declaration and then signed it on August 2 alongside Button Gwinnet and George
Walton. Hall remained in Congress until British troops advanced into Savannah in 1780. He fled with his wife and son to Connecticut where they were to remain until the British had left. They were able to return in 1782 after losing their home, slaves and plantation. A year later his leadership was requested again and he became the Governor of Georgia. Hall agreed to serve for a year, focusing his efforts on restoring the land that had been taken over by the British. He also requested that the Legislature in Augusta would grant them land to establish learning institutions. This decision made it possible for the University of Georgia to be created and maintained. After finishing his term as Governor, Hall returned to Savannah to continue his medical practice. In 1790 he moved to Burke County where he bought a plantation overlooking the Savannah River. He passed away at this location on October 19 of that same year. His widow, Mary, and son, John, both passed away within a year of his death.