New York City Mayor. Known as A. Oakey Hall and nicknamed "Elegant Oakey," he graduated from New York University in 1844 and studied law at Harvard for one semester. He completed his legal studies at a New Orleans law office and became a lawyer in 1849. He was elected New York District Attorney as a Republican, serving from 1853 to 1859 and again from 1861 to 1869. Hall became affiliated with the Tammany Hall Democratic organization in 1864 and edited Tammany's newspaper, The Leader. He was elected Mayor in 1868 and served until 1872, gaining international notoriety as the financial misdeeds of Tammany's Boss Tweed became public. Hall was indicted on charges of covering up the graft and corruption and tried three times from 1871 to 1873. He won surprise acquittals and went to work as a playwright and lecturer. In 1880 he accepted a position as city editor of the New York World newspaper. He later became London correspondent for the New York Herald, working in Europe until he returned to New York City after he retired in the mid 1890s.
New York City Mayor. Known as A. Oakey Hall and nicknamed "Elegant Oakey," he graduated from New York University in 1844 and studied law at Harvard for one semester. He completed his legal studies at a New Orleans law office and became a lawyer in 1849. He was elected New York District Attorney as a Republican, serving from 1853 to 1859 and again from 1861 to 1869. Hall became affiliated with the Tammany Hall Democratic organization in 1864 and edited Tammany's newspaper, The Leader. He was elected Mayor in 1868 and served until 1872, gaining international notoriety as the financial misdeeds of Tammany's Boss Tweed became public. Hall was indicted on charges of covering up the graft and corruption and tried three times from 1871 to 1873. He won surprise acquittals and went to work as a playwright and lecturer. In 1880 he accepted a position as city editor of the New York World newspaper. He later became London correspondent for the New York Herald, working in Europe until he returned to New York City after he retired in the mid 1890s.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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