William Ah Hang

rdf:langString William Ah Hang

rdf:langString William Ah Hang (~1839 - December 3, 1923) was one of few veterans of Chinese heritage who served during the course of the American Civil War [1]. He was also a businessman and prominent figure in the New York Chinese community [2]. He served in the Union Navy during maritime conflicts in the states of South Carolina and Alabama. Notably, Hang was also heavily involved in legal advocacy for his citizenship status and voting rights after being denied the right to vote following a series of laws limiting the ability of Chinese immigrants to become naturalized U.S. citizens [2, 4]. Hang was born in Canton, Guangdong, the southern trade capital of China. He emigrated to the United States in 1858, ultimately entering the country through New York City. Records indicate that Hang traveled by himself, and little is known about his parents or other family members. Hang eventually enlisted in the U.S. Military on July 24, 1863 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, five years after having moved to the United States. Hang joined the Navy at the rank of Landsman, and he was promoted to Cabin Steward before he was honorably discharged from military service. His Navy record included service on at least three naval vessels: North Carolina, Albatross, and the Penguin [4, 11]. William Ah Hang was granted status as a naturalized American citizen on October 6, 1892 by the County Court of Richmond, Ind. He lived in various parts of New York State and started a business as a cigar manufacturer. Upon the implementation of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Hang's citizenship was vacated by the New York Supreme Court. He attempted to recover his status and ability to vote multiple times in a series of legal pleas until his death in Staten Island.