He was born around 1650 the son of James Hall of
Dunglass and his wife, Janet Higgins. In October 1687 he was many of the several Scottish gentry granted a baronetcy in
Nova Scotia, under the title of Baronet of Dunglass. This baronetcy was somewhat meaningless as Nova Scotia was at that time under French control. The purpose was largely a money-making exercise rather than a meaningful area for colonisation. The baronetcies had to be bought. In 1689 he succeeded
Magnus Prince as
Lord Provost of Edinburgh. He served a second term from 1692 to 1694 then was succeeded by
Robert Chieslie of
Dalry. He died in November or December 1695, a few weeks after his second marriage. He is buried in
Greyfriars Kirkyard in
Edinburgh. ==Family==