William James Hall

William James Hall was a medical and religious missionary in Korea, primarily in the capital city of Pyongyang during the 1890s. Upon graduation from medical school, he continued working in New York and was appointed as Medical Superintendent at the Madison Street Medical Mission under the supervision of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As a result of his work with the M.E. Church in New York City, Hall met his future wife, Rosetta Sherwood, who also applied to serve in the mission alongside Hall. Both Sherwood and Hall dedicated their professional life to mission work, serving in Korea starting on October 10, 1890, for Rosetta, and December 15, 1891, for William James. During his three year stay in Korea, Hall greatly expanded the Methodist Mission, providing medical, emotional and spiritual care for Korean soldiers and Pyongyang residents during the First Sino-Japanese War. Hall was a victim of political transgressions, and ultimately died of typhus on November 24, 1894, while tending to wounded men on the banks of the Taedong River.