Hall, A. Oakey 1826-1898

Abraham Oakey Hall (July 26, 1826 – October 7, 1898) was an American politician, lawyer, and writer who served as Mayor of New York City from 1869 to 1872. He twice served as the New York County District Attorney from 1855 to 1858 and from 1862 to 1871. Hall was born in Albany and raised by his mother in New York City after his father died when he was three. He worked as a journalist to pay for New York University and briefly attended Harvard University before moving to New Orleans. He read the law and was admitted to the Louisiana bar before returning to New York City. Originally a member of the Whig Party, he was sworn in as the 15th New York County District Attorney in 1855 and served until 1858. He returned to office as the 18th New York County District Attorney in 1862 as a member of the Republican Party and was reelected in 1864 as a member of the Tammany Hall-backed Democratic Party. In 1868, he was elected as the Mayor of New York City and he was reelected in 1870. In 1871, a Tammany Hall corruption scandal involving William M. Tweed led to Hall's indictment for "willfully neglecting his official duties." He maintained his innocence and was acquitted at his third trial in 1872, but his political career was effectively ended. He worked as a journalist in New York City and London, before dying in 1898.