Benjamin Hall (ironmaster)

Benjamin Hall, FRS (September 29, 1778 – July 31, 1817) was an industrialist and a prominent figure in South Wales.

Background, education and connections

Hall, who was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford and was admitted to the bar in Lincoln's Inn in 1801. In December of that year he married Charlotte the daughter of Ironmaster Richard Crawshay, becoming a partner in the Cyfarthfa Ironworks and owner of Hensol Castle and the Abercarn estate.

Member of Parliament

He was the first great industrialist to enter Parliament serving as MP for Totnes from 1806 to 1812, for Westbury from 1812 to 1814, and for Glamorganshire from then until his death. As soon as he was elected MP for Glamorgan he was admitted a Freemason and promoted to Provincial Grand Master of South Wales.

Family & Heir

His son was Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover, a civil engineer and politician who as Commissioner of Works was notable for the construction of the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. Some hold that the famous bell is accordingly known as 'Big Ben'. Benjamin Hall the younger married Augusta Waddington of Llanover.

References

• National Library of Wales: Welsh Biograph Online
• Lady Llanover the Bee of Gwent
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Benjamin Hall

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by William Adams Vicary Gibbs	Member of Parliament for Totnes 1806–1812 With: William Adams 1806–1811 Thomas Peregrine Courtenay 1811–1812	Succeeded by Ayshford Wise Thomas Peregrine Courtenay
Preceded by Henry Lascelles John de Ponthieu	Member of Parliament for Westbury 1812–1814 With: Benjamin Shaw	Succeeded by Ralph Franco Benjamin Shaw
Preceded by Thomas Wyndham	Member of Parliament for Glamorganshire 1814–1817	Succeeded by Sir Christopher Cole