Alfred Daniel Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred Daniel Hall
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Sir Alfred Daniel Hall, often known as Sir Daniel Hall (born June 22, 1864 – died July 5, 1942), was a British expert in farming education and research. He is famous for starting Wye College, a special school for agriculture.
Hall was born in Rochdale, a town in Lancashire, England. His father, Edwin Hall, made flannel fabric. As a young boy, Alfred loved nature. He joined a group of naturalists, people who study plants and animals. He started collecting fossils in Rochdale, often with the town's surveyor, S.S. Platt.
He went to a private school and then received a scholarship to Manchester Grammar School in 1876. A scholarship is like a special award that helps pay for school. He studied science there. In 1881, he earned another scholarship, the Brackenbury Scholarship, to attend Balliol College, Oxford. He graduated in 1884 with top honors in chemistry.
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Early Career and Teaching
After college, Hall became a school teacher. He taught at Blairlodge Academy, then at Hulme Grammar School in Manchester. In 1888, he became the Senior Science Master at King Edward's School, Birmingham. While teaching in Birmingham, he married Mary Brooks.
Founding Wye College
In 1891, Hall joined the University Extension Board. He had a big idea: to create a new college specifically for agriculture. He chose Wye as the location. With help from E.J. Halsey, a local council leader, they found the land and money needed. This led to the creation of Wye College.
The college officially opened in 1894 with fourteen students. Hall himself taught chemistry. Other founding teachers included Herbert Henry Cousins (chemistry), John Percival (plants), Frank Braybrooke Smith (farming), and F.V. Theobald (insects).
Leading Agricultural Research
In 1902, Hall was asked to help improve research at the famous Rothamsted Laboratory. This lab is known for its long history of agricultural science. He worked there until 1912.
Later, he joined the Development Commission, a group that worked on improving different areas of the country. In 1919, he became the director of the John Innes Horticultural Institution, which studies plants and gardening. He also advised the Ministry of Agriculture part-time. The Ministry of Agriculture is a government department that deals with farming and food.
Honors and Legacy
Sir Daniel Hall was recognized for his important work. In 1909, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. In 1918, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) by the King. This means he was given the title "Sir."
He made a huge difference in how farming was taught and researched in Britain. His work helped farmers grow better crops and understand their land more scientifically.
