author
Sir W. H. (William Hutcheon) Hall
d. 1878
A distinguished Royal Navy officer with a gift for technical innovation, he became closely associated with the early use of steam power at sea. His career stretched from the Napoleonic era to the Crimean War, linking old naval traditions with a rapidly changing modern fleet.
1 Audiobook
Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis from 1840 to 1843 And of the Combined Naval and Military Operations in China: Comprising a Complete Account of the Colony of Hong-Kong and Remarks on the Character & Habits of the Chinese. Second Edition
by Sir W. H. (William Hutcheon) Hall, W. D. (William Dallas) Bernard
About the author
Born around 1797, William Hutcheon Hall entered the Royal Navy as a boy and built a long career through active service and steady advancement. He is especially remembered for taking a serious interest in steam engineering at a time when naval warfare was beginning to change, and he became known as one of the early British officers to study steam propulsion closely.
Hall served in major nineteenth-century conflicts, including the First Anglo-Chinese War and the Crimean War. In China, he commanded the Nemesis, an iron steamship of the East India Company that became famous for showing what steam-powered vessels could do in combat and river operations.
He later rose to the rank of admiral and was honored as KCB and FRS, reflecting both his naval service and his scientific standing. He died on June 25, 1878, leaving behind a reputation as a practical seaman who helped carry the navy into the steam age.