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).
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).
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.
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].