William Hall.

William Hall, V.C., was born in Circa 1825 in Nova Scotia, to African-American parents who had been liberated from the U.S Slave Trade. He launched his seafaring career at a young age, first joining the crew of an American trading vessel as a merchant mariner in 1844. In 1852 Hall joined the British Royal Navy, the world's leading Naval power at the time. While serving on the HMS Shannon in 1857, he volunteered with a relief force sent to Lucknow, India, where a British garrison was besieged by mutineers. two survived the attack, Seaman Hall and Lieutenant Thomas young, but only Hall was left standing, and he continued to fight until the relief of the garrison was assured. for this, Hall was awarded the coveted Victoria Cross, the British Empire's highest award for valour. he was the first black person, the first Nova Scotian, and the first Canadian sailor to receive this outstanding honour.