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John Hay

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Hay
Portrait, 1897
37th United States Secretary of State
In office
September 30, 1898 – July 1, 1905
PresidentWilliam McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded byWilliam R. Day
Succeeded byElihu Root
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In office
May 3, 1897 – September 12, 1898
PresidentWilliam McKinley
Preceded byThomas F. Bayard
Succeeded byJoseph Hodges Choate
12th United States Assistant Secretary of State
In office
November 1, 1879 – May 3, 1881
PresidentRutherford B. Hayes
James A. Garfield
Preceded byFrederick W. Seward
Succeeded byRobert R. Hitt
Personal details
Born
John Milton Hay

(1838-10-08)October 8, 1838
Salem, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 1, 1905(1905-07-01) (aged 66)
Newbury, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Clara Stone
(m. 1874⁠–⁠1905)
Children4; including Helen and Adelbert
EducationBrown University (BA, MA)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
 • Union
Branch/service United States Army
 • Union Army
Rank Brevet Colonel
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

John Milton Hay (October 8, 1838 – July 1, 1905) was an American statesman and official. His job in the government lasted almost half a century. He started 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. He wrote poetry and other literature throughout much of his life.

He was born in Salem, Indiana. He and his family moved to Warsaw, Illinois when he was young. His family was very abolitionist. He went to Brown University. Hay graduated in 1858.