THE FOUR NAVAL DIARISTS

JAMES HALL (1784-1869)

NAVAL CAREER

• • 1808: Joins Royal Navy as Naval Surgeon

  • 1809-36: Ship's surgeon in Home waters, Mediterranean, South Atlantic, Indian Ocean and China. Hospital appointment in RNH Bermuda. Surgeon Superintendent during four Convict ship voyages to Australia.

  • 1836: Retires from Royal Navy.

Civilian Immigration officer Ireland. Doctor for Convict Hulk in Bermuda. General practitioner in Kent.

FAMILY

• • 1809: Marries Mary Miller at Portsmouth and has three children:

    • • James (1810-37) Joins Bombay Presidency Army, East India Company.

      • William (1816-86) Joins Royal Navy. Second naval diarist.

      • Mary Ann (1818 - 66 ) Marries clergyman.

  • Mid 1820s: His 1st wife Mary dies.

  • 1829: Marries Frances Miller (niece of 1st wife) in Bermuda.

  • 1830s: Two children born.

Click here to download the James Hall Family Tree (PDF file).

WILLIAM KING-HALL (1816-1886)

NAVAL CAREER

• • 1829: Joins Royal Navy as Volunteer 2nd Class (Navigation branch with limited career prospects)

  • 1832: Transfers to General Service (full career prospects).

  • As junior officer served: In N. Atlantic during Carlist Wars; in Mediterranean in Turkish wars; in West Indies and Canada in Flagship of Adm. Austen (brother of novelist Jane Austen).

  • In command: Served in Kaffir Wars, S.Africa; Crimean War; Baltic; China Wars Canton and N. China.

  • As Flag Officer Devonport Dockyard and Commander in Chief the Nore.

  • 1879: Retires from Royal Navy

FAMILY

• • 1848: Marries Louisa Forman in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

  • 1849-68: Family of ten children. Six sons and four daughters.

  • Second and eldest surviving son George King-Hall. Third Diarist. Fifth son, Herbert also joins Navy.

  • 1875: Louisa dies at Devonport.

  • 1880: Marries Charlotte Tillotson.

Click here to download the William King-Hall Family Tree (PDF file).

GEORGE KING-HALL (1850-1939)

NAVAL CAREER

• • 1864: Joins Royal Navy as Naval Cadet.

  • As junior officer served in: S. America; Australia; Home Waters; Mediterranean; Hong Kong and Japan; West Indies and N. America.

  • In command: Anti slavery patrols East Africa; Mediterranean and Red Sea; Home waters; China and Phillipines.

  • As Flag Officer: Coast of Ireland and Commander-in-Chief Australia.

  • 1913: Retires from Royal Navy.

FAMILY

• • 1892: Marries Olga Ker and has three children. One son and two daughters.

  • 1893: Stephen, fourth Diarist born.

  • 1897: Louise, novelist and editor of Sea Saga.

  • 1904: Magdalen, novelist and mother of the editor of this website.

STEPHEN KING-HALL (1893-1966)

NAVAL CAREER

• • 1906: Joins Royal Navy as Naval Cadet.

  • Early career: Home waters and South Africa.

  • First World War: Served in Southampton part of Grand Fleet in North Sea. Fought in Battle of Jutland.

  • In 1920s, served in Home Waters; Far East and Mediterranean and Staff appointments.

  • 1929: Retired from Royal Navy as Commander.

CIVILIAN CAREER

Author, journalist; broadcaster, playwright and politician.

• • 1924: Published Western Civilisation and the Far East

  • 1929: Joined Royal Institute of International Affairs

  • 1930: Play Middle Watch opens on West End

  • 1930s: First broadcast on BBC

  • 1936: Launched K-H Newsletter.

  • 1939: [German Newsletter]

  • 1939: Elected Independent MP

  • 1944: Founded Hansard Society

  • 1952: Memoirs My Naval Life published

  • 1954: Received Knighthood

  • 1966: Received Life Peerage

For those who wish to to look at the careers of the four Diarists and their associated Diaries and Documents in more detail go to [PAGE1013].