Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hall, John (1795-1866)
HALL, Sir JOHN, M.D. (1795–1866), army surgeon, born in 1795 at Little Beck, Westmoreland, was the son of John Hall of that place by Isabel, daughter of T. Fothergill. On leaving the grammar school of Appleby he applied himself to medicine, attending Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals, and graduated M.D. at St. Andrews in 1845. In June 1815 he entered the army medical service as hospital assistant, and joined the forces in Flanders. His next active service was in Kaffraria in 1847 and 1851 as principal medical officer. He held the same rank in the Crimea from June 1854 to July 1856, without a day's absence from duty, and was present at numerous engagements. He was mentioned in despatches, and made K.C.B., officer of the Legion of Honour, and 3rd class of the Medjidie. He then retired on half-pay, with the rank of inspector-general of hospitals, and died at Pisa on 17 Jan. 1866. In 1848 he married Lucy Campbell, daughter of Henry Hackshaw, and widow of Duncan Sutherland of St. Vincent, West Indies.
His writings are two pamphlets, 1857 and 1858, defending the army medical officers in the Crimea from the reflections on them in the report of the sanitary commission which was sent out. Hall contends that the insanitary state of the army had been in great part remedied before the commission got to work, that the members of the latter accomplished little, and that what little they accomplished was effected with an amount of difficulty that should have taught them more consideration for their brethren of the military profession, who were less fortunately situated, and were hampered by the exigencies and discipline of the service.
[Gent. Mag. 1866, i. 444; Lancet, 27 Jan. 1866.]