Who is Richard Hale from North and South and what is their importance?

Richard Hale begins the novel as Reverend of Helstone. Unfortunately, his religious doubts forces him to move his family away from their beloved New Forest home and to the harsher climes of the industrial North. Here Mr. Hale finds a job as a private tutor, teaching mostly young boys. However, his favorite and brightest student is 30-year-old John Thornton.