378
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..
