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: ''For the American geologist and paleontologist, see James Hall (paleontologist).''
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'Sir James Hall of Dunglass, 4th Baronet' (January 17, 1761 - June 23, 1832) was a geologist and geophysicist, born at Dunglass, Haddingtonshire, to Sir John Hall, 3rd Baronet (d. 1776), by his spouse, Magdalen (d. 1763) daughter of Sir Robert Pringle, 3rd Baronet, of Stichill, Roxburghshire. Sir James was also Member of Parliament for St. Michael's borough (Mitchell, Cornwall) 1808 - 1812.
Hall studied at Cambridge University and the University of Edinburgh. Early in his career, Hall studied chemistry under Joseph Black and natural history under John Walker (naturalist). During the 1780s he travelled to France and met Lavoisier. He returned to Scotland to promote the new French chemical nomenclature.
He was particularly taken by James Hutton's ''Theory of the Earth'' during the 1780s and 1790s, and published several papers on the chemical composition of strata. He carried out research on granite that showed that it was possible for molten rock to form conformities. His results were published in the ''Transactions'' of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and were well received by those like John Playfair who wanted to use Hutton's theory to promote a more mathematical approach to geology. Hall traveled extensively in Europe to examine geological formations of the Alps and Mount Etna, and noted the similarity of lava flows in Italy to locations in Scotland.
Sir James Hall was President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and author of various works on architecture and the sciences. He married Helen (d. 1837), daughter of Dunbar Hamilton later Douglas (d. 1799), Earl of Selkirk, and had issue: three sons and three daughters. Sir James Hall died at Edinburgh, Scotland.
He was succeeded by his son and heir, Sir John Hall, 5th Baronet, F.R.S.
Another son, Basil Hall, was a noted traveller and writer.
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References

★ ''The Royal Families of England, Scotland, and Wales, with their Descendants'', etc., by Messrs, John and John Bernard Burke, London, 1848: vol.1, pedigree CXXVI.

★ ''Ten Parishes of the County of Haddington'', by John Martine, edited by E.J.Wilson, Haddington, 1894, p.214.

See also

★ Scottish Enlightenment