Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/430

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

from London, England, in 1680, and settled in Charleston, South Carolina. J. Leslie Hall attended the University School at Richmond and Randolph-Macon College. 1 le became an employee in his father's store. In 1881 he began teaching, and until 1885 taught in city and country schools. From 1885 until 1888 he was a student at Johns Hopkins University, there making a spe- cialty of English and German languages and history, graduating Doctor of Philosophy. In Alay, 1888, on the reorganization of Wil- liam and Alary College, he was elected pro- fessor of English and general history, a chair which he made one of the most famous in the south. Since 1907 he has been dean of the faculty. He is the author of a "Trans- lation of Beowulf" (1892), pronounced "the best thing yet done in English ;" "Old Eng- lish Idyls (1899) ; "Judith Phoenix and other .Anglo-Saxon Poems" (1902); joint editor g; Harrison and Hall's "Anglo-Saxon Read- er" (1907); "Half Hours in Southern His- tory," and a contributor of literary reviews to several publications. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion an Episcopalian, serving for several years as vestryman of Bruton parish, Williamsburg. He is a mem- ber of the Phi Beta Kappa, and for years was secretary of Alpha chapter, William and Mary College. He married, April 30, 1889, Margaret Fenwick Farland. of Tappa- hannock county, Virginia.

Moore, Robert Walton, born at Fairfax, Fairfax county. Virginia, February 26, 1859, son of Thomas Moore, of Virginia, and Han- nah Morris Moore, of New York, his wife. He is a descendant on the paternal side of many old V^irginia families, including the Lindsays, and on the maternal side of a

family distinguished all along the line for more than three centuries, including among others Lewis Morris, who was an eminent Xew York statesman, lawyer and judge, and signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. He was a student in the village schools in Fairfax, the -Episcopal high school near Alexandria, and the University of Vir- ginia, lie first taught school and after- v.ards practiced law, first with his father as partner, and then with Mr, Keith, under the firm name of Moore eK; Keith. Later the firm name became Moore, Barbour & Keith. The firm has an extensive business and repre- sents several important railroad and steam- ship lines before the interstate commerce commission and the Federal courts, main- taining an office in Washington City, as well as in Fairfax, \'irginia. In 1887 he was slate senator, as a Democrat, from the four- teenth senatorial district and served for four years. In 1892 he was a presidential elector ill the Cleveland-Harrison campaign: in 1896 his name was urged on the Democratic convention at Alexandria for nomination to the United States house of representatives ; ill 1898 he was asked to be a candidate for the United States senate, but declined. In iQOi, when the constitutional convention of the state for changing the constitution was called to meet in Richmond, Mr. Moore was unanimously elected as a representative, served as chairman of the committee in the legislative <le])artment, and member of the finance and revision committees, and was an active factor in the securing of better highways for \'irginia, and in extending the o])erations of the common schools. He is an author of note and an eloquent and force- ful speaker..