1 John Hay Quotes

FameRank: 6

"John Milton Hay" was an American statesman and official whose career in government stretched over almost half a century. Beginning as a Secretary to the President of the United States/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 Abolitionism in the United States/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 United States presidential election, 1860/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 Assassination of Abraham Lincoln/was shot at Ford's Theatre. In addition to his other literary works, Hay co-authored with John George Nicolay a Abraham Lincoln: A History/multi-volume biography of Lincoln that helped shape the assassinated president's historical image.