Editing Lyman Hall (section)

== Revolutionary War ==
On the eve of the [[American Revolution]], St. John's Parish, in which Sunbury was located, was a hotbed of radical sentiment in a predominantly [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] colony. Though Georgia was not initially represented in the [[First Continental Congress]], through Hall's influence the parish was persuaded to send a delegate to Philadelphia to the [[Second Continental Congress]]. Hall was delegated and was admitted to a seat in the Congress in 1775. He was one of the three Georgians and one of four doctors to sign the document of Independence.<ref>{{Harvnb|Rosen|1976|pp=397–398}}</ref>

In January 1779, Sunbury was burned by the British. Hall's family fled to the North, where they remained until the British evacuation in 1782. Hall then returned to Georgia, settling in [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]]. In January 1783, he was elected [[governor of Georgia|governor]] of the state{{spaced ndash}}a position that he held for one year. While governor, Hall advocated the chartering of a state university, believing that education, particularly religious education, would result in a more virtuous citizenry. His efforts led to the chartering of the [[University of Georgia]] in 1785. At the expiration of his term as governor, he resumed his medical practice.