Marshall Hall, Edward, 1858-1927

Sir Edward Marshall Hall, (16 September 1858 – 24 February 1927) was an English barrister and politician who had a formidable reputation as an orator. He successfully defended many people accused of murder and became known as "The Great Defender". Marshall Hall practised as a barrister in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, when the public took a great interest in the sensational court cases of the day. Big criminal and civil trials were widely reported on by the popular press on a daily basis. As a consequence, he and other successful barristers of the day became very famous. The widespread belief that he was a much better orator than a lawyer may explain his failure to achieve appointment to the High Court, which was a source of great disappointment to him.