Born in Indiana and raised in Illinois, John Milton Hay studied at Brown University before reading law in Springfield, Illinois. His proximity to Abraham Lincoln led to his appointment as one of the future president's private secretaries. Throughout the American Civil War, Hay remained a close confidant to Lincoln, a relationship that culminated in his presence at the President's deathbed and later informed his major literary endeavors.\n\nFollowing Lincoln's assassination, Hay entered the diplomatic service in Europe and worked as a journalist for the New-York Tribune. He rose through the political ranks, serving as Assistant Secretary of State and later as Ambassador to the United Kingdom. As Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, Hay was instrumental in shaping American foreign policy, negotiating the Open Door Policy with China and securing the treaties necessary to construct the Panama Canal.\n\nAlongside his extensive career in statesmanship, Hay was a dedicated man of letters who wrote poetry and other literature throughout his life. His most significant literary contribution was a monumental ten-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln, co-authored with fellow secretary John George Nicolay. This comprehensive work played a foundational role in shaping the historical legacy and public image of the assassinated president.
