Valentine Gill
Hall III
Male
United States of America
1867-11-12
New York, United States of America
1934-10-26
New York, United States of America
Valentine Gill Hall III came from a wealthy family of bankers, merchants, landowners and socialites. His paternal grandfather, Valentine Gill Hall I, was a partner in the New York City wool merchant firm of Tonnelé & Hall, the largest wool dealers in the United States. Due to the family’s wealth, Valentine Gill Hall II, father of the lawn tennis player, did not have to pursue a profession. On 24 April 1861, he was married to Mary Livingston Ludlow, a member of another prominent family.
Together, Valentine Gill Hall II and Mary Hall had seven children: two sons and five daughters. The lawn tennis player was their third child. Their first child was Anna Rebecca Hall who in 1883 was married to Elliott Roosevelt, younger brother of Theodore Roosevelt II, who would serve as President of the United States from 1901 to 1909.
The marriage between Elliott and Anna Roosevelt produced three children: one son and two daughters, including Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, popularly known as Eleanor (1884-1962), who would later marry her fifth cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, another future President of the United States.
Eleanor’s mother, Anna, contacted diphtheria and died at the family home in New York City in December 1892 at the age of only 29. Eleanor’s father, Elliott, died in August 1894 of injuries resulting from a failed suicide attempt. He was 34 and had been struggling with alcoholism. His death effectively left the future First Lady of the United States an orphan at the age of 10. She was subsequently taken in by her maternal grandmother’s family, which included Valentine Gill Hall III, her uncle, with whom she developed a lifelong bond.
Valentine Gill Hall III attended Columbia University but did not graduate, nor did he marry. Like his younger brother Edward, Valentine was a gifted lawn tennis player and excelled at doubles. Valentine featured in the final match of the men’s doubles event at the U.S. Championships five years in a row, from 1888 to 1892, winning the title twice. In 1888, he and Oliver Campbell beat Clarence Hobart and Edward P. MacMullen in the final match, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. In 1890, Hall and Hobart won the title together, beating Charles Carver and John Ryerson in the final match, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
In later life Eleanor Roosevelt kept in contact with her Hall relatives. As the following article reveals, she went to visit Valentine Gill Hall III, the former lawn tennis player, at his home in Tivoli, New York, in October 1934, but he had died before she arrived. By that time Eleanor Roosevelt had become First Lady of the United States.
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From The New York Times, 28 October 1934:
“Uncle passes waiting visit of First Lady – Former Tennis Star found dead as niece arrives
“Tivoli, October 27. Mrs Franklin Delano [Eleanor] Roosevelt, stopping here today to visit her uncle, Valentine Hall, found the 67-year-old former tennis star had died suddenly while asleep. The wife of the President arrived at the Hall home, where she spent her childhood, a few minutes after servants had discovered Mr Hall dead in his bed.
“After helping the servants and friends of the dead man arrange for the funeral, Mrs Roosevelt continued her trip to Hyde Park. She will return to the Hall home tomorrow and perhaps remain over for the funeral on Monday.
“Mrs Roosevelt, an orphan at 10, lived thereafter with her grandmother, Mrs Valentine Hall, in the beautiful family home overlooking the Hudson River. Valentine Hall, 19 years older than his niece, taught Eleanor to ride. He introduced her in tennis. He had been one of the top-ranking players of the United States. Through the years that carried her to Albany as the wife of a state senator, the wife of the governor and to Washington as the First Lady, Mrs Roosevelt always visited her uncle several times a year.
“Mrs Roosevelt, having completed a two-day speaking campaign for her friend Mrs Caroline O’Day, Democratic candidate for representative-at-large, left Albany this morning. She had intended, after visiting Mr Hall, motoring on to Hyde Park to visit Miss Nancy Cook over Sunday.
“The Hall home is 20 miles north of the Roosevelt estate at Hyde Park. Nearby is the village of Germantown. Mr Hall apparently was in good health when he retired last night. He was looking forward to a visit from his niece. Herat disease was the cause of death, physicians said.”
1882 - 1894
15
102
66
1894 - Edgewood Country Club (Amateur)
1894 - Kebo Valley (Bar Harbor) (Amateur)
1893 - Kebo Valley (Bar Harbor) (Amateur)
1891 - Southampton Invitation (Long Island) (Amateur)
1890 - Hudson River Championships (Amateur)
1890 - Bar Harbor Club (Open)
1890 - Kebo Valley (Bar Harbor) (Amateur)
1888 - Hudson River Championships (Amateur)
1887 - Hitchin (Amateur)
1887 - Edgewood Country Club (Amateur)
1887 - New Hamburg (Amateur)
1886 - Cooperstown (Amateur)
1886 - Edgewood Country Club (Amateur)
1886 - Seventh Regiment Tennis Club (Amateur)
1885 - Edgewood Country Club (Amateur)
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Edward Ludlow (Eddie) Hall Jr.
6-4
1-6
6-2
3-6
6-3
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
George Winthrop Lee
6-4
5-7
6-1
6-3
Round 3
Richard W. Stevens 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-2
6-2
6-3
Challenge Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
W.K. Shaw
7-5
6-4
6-3
Preliminary Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
B.S. Watson
6-2
6-3
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Harold Fowler McCormick
2-6
6-2
6-1
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Stanley Robert McCormick
6-3
6-1
Semifinals
William Gordon Parker 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-3
6-3
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
H.B. Bartow
6-0
6-2
6-2
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Erskine Hewitt
6-2
7-5
6-2
Round 3
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
F. Whitall
6-2
6-3
6-2
Quarterfinals
Frederick Howard (Fred) Hovey 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-2
5-7
8-6
6-2
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
George S. Keyes
6-2
6-1
6-1
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Francis Seymour (Frank) Noon
6-1
6-0
6-2
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Leonard Everett (Leo) Ware
6-2
6-2
6-4
Semifinals
Richard W. Stevens 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-3
6-4
6-4
Preliminary Round
Dr. John Howland 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-1
6-4
Final
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Gregory Seeley Bryan
10-8
6-4
6-3
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Philip Shelton Sears
6-3
3-6
8-6
6-4
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Russell Newton Dana
6-3
6-2
6-2
Round 3
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
F.B. Winslow
6-4
6-4
6-3
Quarterfinals
Bill Larned 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
6-3
7-5
Preliminary Round
T.E. Powe 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
w.o.
Challenge Round
Edward Ludlow (Eddie) Hall Jr. 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
4-6
6-1
6-1
2-6
8-6
Preliminary Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
J.H. Blum
6-1
6-1
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Henry G. Bixby
7-5
6-3
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
John B. Yates
6-2
6-2
Semifinals
Wallace Percy Knapp 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-2
6-2
Challenge Round
Carman Randolph Runyon 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
w.o.
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
C. Case
w.o.
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Duncan William Candler
5-7
6-3
6-3
Semifinals
Robert Duffield (Bob) Wrenn 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-3
6-4
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
F.M. Pile
6-1
6-1
6-1
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Richard W. Stevens
2-6
6-2
6-4
6-1
Round 3
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Samuel Thompson Chase
6-4
2-6
6-2
6-3
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Charles T. Lee
6-4
6-4
0-6
6-0
Semifinals
Clarence Hobart 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-2
6-4
6-2
Preliminary Round
A.J. Wellington 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
w.o.
Preliminary Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
E.C. Rushmore
6-2
6-3
6-1
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Bill Larned
4-6
6-3
4-6
15-13
6-0
Semifinals
Richard W. Stevens 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-2
6-1
9-7
Preliminary Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
M.P. Steele
6-1
6-1
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Spring Rice
w.o.
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Charles L. McCauley
3-6
6-3
6-2
Semifinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Marion Randolph Wright
6-2
3-6
6-4
Final
Edward Ludlow (Eddie) Hall Jr. 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
6-4
4-6
3-6
6-3
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
W.R. Betts
6-2
6-2
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Richard W. Stevens
4-6
6-2
6-3
Semifinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Edward Ludlow (Eddie) Hall Jr.
7-5
3-6
6-3
Final
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
James Ford Coleman Huntington
6-2
6-4
7-5
Challenge Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Howard Augustus Taylor
w.o.
Preliminary Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Herbert Claiborne Pell jr
w.o.
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
A.W. Post
4-6
7-5
7-5
Quarterfinals
Marion Randolph Wright 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
4-6
9-7
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
E.W. Gould Jr.
6-1
6-1
6-3
Round 3
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Hugh A. Tallant
6-2
6-3
6-3
Quarterfinals
Clarence Hobart 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
6-3
5-7
3-6
6-3
Semifinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Edward Ludlow (Eddie) Hall Jr.
6-4
6-4
Final
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Victor M. Elting
6-3
4-6
6-2
7-9
6-3
Challenge Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Charles Edward Sands
6-4
9-7
6-3
Final
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Edward Ludlow (Eddie) Hall Jr.
6-3
5-7
8-6
6-4
Final
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
J.W. Carver
6-1
1-6
6-0
1-6
6-2
Challenge Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Joseph Sill Clark
7-9
6-3
6-2
3-6
6-4
Round 1
Arthur Lyman Williston 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
6-8
7-5
3-6
6-2
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
J.W. Raymond
6-3
6-1
6-1
Quarterfinals
F.M. Bacon jr 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
w.o.
Final
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Edward Ludlow (Eddie) Hall Jr.
6-4
6-3
6-4
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Hovey Brown
6-2
6-2
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
C.H. Ludington jr
6-3
6-3
Semifinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Frederick Howard (Fred) Hovey
6-3
6-2
Final
Philip Shelton Sears 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
7-5
4-6
6-2
4-6
6-2
Final
Oliver Samuel Campbell 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
4-6
6-3
6-4
2-6
6-1
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
R.H. Elliott
w.o.
Quarterfinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
W.V. Draper
6-1
6-4
Semifinals
A.W. Post 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-0
6-4
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
J.W. Raymond
6-5
6-4
6-5
Quarterfinals
Henry Warner Slocum Jr. 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
6-4
6-4
Round 1
S.B. Platner 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
w.o.
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Charles Edward Sands
w.o.
Semifinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
W.H. Sands
6-1
6-2
Final
Henry Warner Slocum Jr. 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
7-5
6-3
Round 1
Philip Shelton Sears 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
3-6
6-4
6-3
Round 2
Albert Empie Wright 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-1
6-2
Preliminary Round
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
W.T. Willis
6-1
6-4
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Quincy Adams Shaw Jr.
6-5
6-4
Semifinals
Edward Peale MacMullen 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
5-6
6-4
6-3
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
J.W. Raymond
6-4
6-1
Semifinals
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Juan A. Smith
6-2
6-3
Final
Edward Peale MacMullen 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
7-5
7-5
1-6
6-4
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Maitland Alexander
w.o.
Quarterfinals
Robert Livingston Beeckman 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
5-6
6-3
6-4
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
R.H. Russell
6-1
4-2
ret.
Round 2
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
S.C. Hodge
6-5
6-1
Quarterfinals
Edward Peale MacMullen 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
6-5
Round 1
Howard Augustus Taylor 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
4-6
6-0
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Albert Empie Wright
6-2
5-6
12-10
Quarterfinals
Philip Shelton Sears 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-0
6-2
Final
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
C. Travelia
6-5
6-2
Round 2
Grant Notman 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
5-6
6-3
6-3
Round 1
Valentine Gill Hall III 1 *
Arthur Louis Keyser
6-2
6-5
Round 2
William Edward Glyn 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-1
6-4
Preliminary Round
Howard Augustus Taylor 1 *
Valentine Gill Hall III
6-4
4-6
6-0