Elijah Hall
Encyclopedia
Elijah Hall was an officer in the Continental Navy
.
, was appointed Lieutenant in the Continental Navy on June 14, 1777, to serve in the frigate
Ranger
under John Paul Jones
. Ranger sailed for France
on November 1, 1777, taking two prizes en route, then put to sea from Brest
on April 10, 1778, to cruise in the Irish Sea
. Hall took part in the capture of several vessels, the landing at St. Mary's Isle April 23, and the capture of HMS Drake
next day. Hall commanded the prize crew which took Drake into Brest. Hall continued to serve as Lieutenant of Ranger until he was captured at Charleston, S.C., May 12, 1780.
Released after the end of the war, Hall settled in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
in 1818 and held various community positions until his death there on June 22, 1830.
USS Hall
(DD-583) was named in his honor.
Continental Navy
The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and was formed in 1775. Through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron, John Adams and vigorous Congressional support in the face of stiff opposition, the fleet cumulatively became relatively...
.
Biography
Hall, born in Raynham, MassachusettsRaynham, Massachusetts
Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,739 at the 2000 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.-History:...
, was appointed Lieutenant in the Continental Navy on June 14, 1777, to serve in the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Ranger
USS Ranger (1777)
The first USS Ranger was a sloop-of-war in the Continental Navy, and received the second salute to an American fighting vessel by a foreign power The first USS Ranger was a sloop-of-war in the Continental Navy, and received the second salute to an American fighting vessel by a foreign power The...
under John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
. Ranger sailed for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on November 1, 1777, taking two prizes en route, then put to sea from Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
on April 10, 1778, to cruise in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
. Hall took part in the capture of several vessels, the landing at St. Mary's Isle April 23, and the capture of HMS Drake
HMS Drake (1777)
HMS Drake was a twenty-gun sloop-of-war of the Royal Navy. Originally named Resolution, she was purchased in 1777. She served in the American Revolutionary War, and on 24 April 1778, off Carrickfergus, Ireland, she fought the North Channel naval duel with the 18-gun sloop Ranger of the Continental...
next day. Hall commanded the prize crew which took Drake into Brest. Hall continued to serve as Lieutenant of Ranger until he was captured at Charleston, S.C., May 12, 1780.
Released after the end of the war, Hall settled in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
in 1818 and held various community positions until his death there on June 22, 1830.
Namesake
In 1943, the destroyerDestroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS Hall
USS Hall (DD-583)
USS Hall was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant Elijah Hall , who served in the Continental Navy under John Paul Jones....
(DD-583) was named in his honor.