Nathan K. Hall

Nathan K. Hall
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
In office August 31, 1852 – March 2, 1874
Appointed by	Millard Fillmore
Preceded by	Alfred Conkling
Succeeded by	William James Wallace
14th United States Postmaster General
In office July 23, 1850 – August 31, 1852
President	Millard Fillmore
Preceded by	Jacob Collamer
Succeeded by	Samuel Dickinson Hubbard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 32nd district
In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	William A. Moseley
Succeeded by	Elbridge G. Spaulding
Personal details
Born	Nathan Kelsey Hall (1810-03-28)March 28, 1810 Marcellus, New York, US
Died	March 2, 1874(1874-03-02) (aged 63) Buffalo, New York, US
Resting place	Forest Lawn Cemetery (Buffalo)
Political party	Whig
Education	read law

Nathan Kelsey Hall (March 28, 1810 – March 2, 1874) was a United States representative from New York, the 14th United States Postmaster General and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Hall was nominated by President Millard Fillmore on August 13, 1852, to a seat vacated by Alfred Conkling. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 31, 1852, and received commission the same day. Hall's service was terminated on March 2, 1874, due to death.

Education and career

Born on March 28, 1810, in Marcellus, Onondaga County, New York, Hall moved to Erie County, New York in his early youth and attended the district schools, and engaged in shoe-making and agricultural pursuits. He read law with future President Millard Fillmore in 1832. He entered private practice in Buffalo, New York from 1832 to 1850. He was clerk for the Board of Supervisors of Erie County from 1832 to 1838. He was city attorney for Buffalo from 1833 to 1834. He was an alderman for Buffalo in 1837. He was a Master in Chancery in Buffalo from 1839 to 1841, on the appointment of Governor of New York William H. Seward. He was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Erie County from January 1841 to January 1845. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1846.

Congressional service and Postmaster General

Hall was elected as a Whig from New York's 32nd congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 30th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1847, to March 3, 1849. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1848. Hall served as the 14th Postmaster General of the United States in the cabinet of President Millard Fillmore from July 23, 1850, to August 31, 1852.

Federal judicial service

Hall was nominated by President Millard Fillmore on August 13, 1852, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York vacated by Judge Alfred Conkling. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 31, 1852, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on March 2, 1874, due to his death in Buffalo. He was interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.

University of Buffalo

Hall was "particularly active in procuring the charter" of the University at Buffalo, which President Fillmore founded.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Nathan K. Hall (id: H000062)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Nathan Kelsey Hall at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Works by Nathan K. Hall at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Nathan K. Hall at the Internet Archive