Sir John Hall

Plaque at Central Library, Albion Street,HU1 3TF. Grid B2

Sir John Hall was born in Hull in 1824, the third son of George Hall, a captain in the Navy. At the age of ten, John was sent to school in Switzerland, and then continued his education in Paris and Hamburg. After returning to England and working for the Post Office, he emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 27. There, John became active in local politics in Christchurch, and was elected as an Member of Parliament in 1850. On 8 October 1879, he was appointed Prime Minister of New Zealand, a position he held for three years. He took an interest in women’s rights and was the leader of the parliamentary campaign for women’s suffrage.In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to give women the vote, following a parliamentary bill moved by John. He died in Christchurch in 1907.