Background
Hall was the son of an industrialist Benjamin Hall.
architect commissioner politician secretary civil engineer
Hall was the son of an industrialist Benjamin Hall.
Westminster School.
The famous "Big Ben" may have been named for him. He was a Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1826. However, he was successfully re-elected for the same constituency in December 1832.
He was instrumental in the passing of the Truck Acts of 1831 and campaigned against the abuse of parliamentary election expenses and championed the right of people in Wales to have religious services in Welsh.
In 1837 he was returned for Marylebone and the following year he was created a baronet. He served under Lord Aberdeen and then Lord Palmerston as President of the Board of Health between 1854 and 1855 and was sworn of the Privy Council in 1854.
In 1855 he introduced an Acting of Parliament which led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Board of Works. He became First Commissioner of Works the same year and was responsible for many environmental and sanitary improvements in London.
He oversaw the later stages of the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament, including the installation of the 13.8-tonne hour bell, "Big Ben", in the clock tower.
He was a tall man and many attribute its name to him, but this is questionable. He remained as First Commissioner of Works under parliament until the Whigs lost power in 1858. The following year he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Llanover, of Llanover and Abercarn in the County of Monmouth.
From 1861 to 1867 he was Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire.
10th United Kingdom Parliament. 11th United Kingdom Parliament. 12th United Kingdom Parliament.
13th United Kingdom Parliament.
14th United Kingdom Parliament. 15th United Kingdom Parliament.
16th United Kingdom Parliament. 17th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was elected Member of Parliament for Monmouth in May 1831, but his name was erased from the return already in July of the same year.