Edwin Cuthbert Hall

Dr Edwin Cuthbert Hall
Born	1874 Ashfield, New South Wales
Died	9 April 1953 Vaucluse, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Education	Newington College University of Sydney
Occupation	Physician
Title	Dr E. C. Hall
Spouse(s)	1 Mary Hall (died 1937) 2 Amelia Hall (died 1958)

Edwin Cuthbert Hall (1874–1953) was an Australian physician and philanthropist who through a bequest funded the Edwin Cuthbert Hall Chair of Middle Eastern Archaeology within the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sydney.^[1] In 1973, the Hall Bequest was the second largest donation to the University after the Power Bequest.^[2]

Birth and education

Hall was born in Sydney to Reuben and Mary Ann Hall^[3] of Ashfield, New South Wales, and attended Newington College (1886–1891).^[4] In 1889 and again in 1890, he won the Wigram Allen Scholarship, awarded by Sir George Wigram Allen, for mathematics, with David Edwards receiving it in 1890 for classics. At the end of 1891 Hall was named Dux of the College and received the Schofield Scholarship.^[5] He went up to the University of Sydney and in 1894 graduated as a Bachelor of Medicine and Chemistry.^[6]

Marriages

Hall married Mary Blair Ewan a daughter of James Ewan of Glenleigh, Penrith. She was a niece of the late Sir George Reid. Mary Hall died in 1932.^[7] He married, secondly, Amella Wilmot Scanlan, youngest daughter of the late Augustus Scanlan of Mayfair, Potts Point, in 1932.^[8] Hall was survived by his second wife on his death in 1953.

Medical career

After appointments as a resident medical officer and a medical superintendent at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,^[9] Hall became the Government Medical Officer at Parramatta, New South Wales in 1922.^[10] After the death of his first wife, Hall became a specialist with rooms in Macquarie Street, Sydney.^[2]

Botany

Hall was the author of several plant species, especially in the genus Eucalyptus.^[11]

Death and bequest

The terms of Hall's will were that his estate was to be held in trust until the death of his wife "for the University of Sydney for the endowment of a Professorship in the subjects of Archaeology and Mythology in the Ancient Middle East, namely, Palestine, Egypt and Asia Minor." On 31 December 1959 the University received £88,608 12s. 7d. In 1960 the Edwin Cuthbert Hall Chair of Middle Eastern Archaeology was established with the first occupant being appointed on 2 August 1960.^[12]

References

1. "Gift to Varsity.". The Courier-Mail (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 6 August 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
2. "MYSTERY OF THE VACANT CHAIR.". The Sydney Morning Herald (Google News). 1 July 1973. p. 4. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
3. NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Retrieved 11 June 2012.
4. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 80
5. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) Part 2 – The Lists
6. "Alumni Sydneienses". University of Sydney. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
7. "MRS. MARY HALL.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 18 January 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
8. "HALL—SCANLAN.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 23 February 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
9. "POLICE COURTS.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 18 May 1898. p. 5. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
10. "PERSONAL.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 20 October 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
11. "Query of Species described by E.C.Hall". International Plant Names Index.
12. University of Sydney – The Edwin Cuthbert Hall Bequest. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
13. "Author Query for 'E.C.Hall'". International Plant Names Index.