John Milton Hay
| John Hay | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 37th United States Secretary of State | |
|
In office September 30, 1898 – July 1, 1905 |
|
| President |
William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | William R. Day |
| Succeeded by | Elihu Root |
| United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom | |
|
In office May 3, 1897 – September 12, 1898 |
|
| Monarch | Victoria |
| President | William McKinley |
| Prime Minister | The Marquess of Salisbury |
| Preceded by | Thomas F. Bayard |
| Succeeded by | Joseph H. Choate |
| 12th United States Assistant Secretary of State | |
|
In office November 1, 1879 – March 31, 1881 |
|
| President |
Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Garfield |
| Preceded by | Frederick W. Seward |
| Succeeded by | Robert R. Hitt |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Milton Hay October 8, 1838 Salem, Indiana, United States |
| Died | July 1, 1905 (aged 66) Newbury, New Hampshire, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Clara Louise Stone (m. 1874–1905) |
| Children | 4, including Helen Hay Whitney |
| Alma mater |
Illinois State University Brown University |
| Profession | Author, journalist, statesman |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service/branch |
 United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Rank |
 brevet Colonel
|
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John Milton Hay (October 8, 1838 – July 1, 1905) was an American statesman and official whose career in government stretched over almost half a century. Beginning as a private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln, Hay's highest office was United States Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Hay was also an author and biographer, and wrote poetry and other literature throughout much of his life.
Born in Indiana to an anti-slavery family that moved to Illinois when he was young, Hay showed great potential, and his family sent him to Brown University. After graduation in 1858, Hay read law in his uncle's office in Springfield, Illinois, adjacent to that of Lincoln. Hay worked for Lincoln's successful presidential campaign, and became one of his private secretaries at the White House. Throughout the American Civil War, Hay was close to Lincoln, and stood by his deathbed after the President was shot at Ford's Theatre. In addition to his other literary works, Hay co-authored with John George Nicolay a multi-volume biography of Lincoln that helped shape the assassinated president's historical image.
After Lincoln's death, Hay spent several years at diplomatic posts in Europe, then worked for the New-York Tribune under Horace Greeley and Whitelaw Reid. Yet, Hay remained active in politics, and from 1879 to 1881 served as Assistant Secretary of State. Afterwards, he remained in the private sector, until President McKinley, for whom he had been a major backer, made him Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1897. Hay became Secretary of State the following year.
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