How did Rutherford B. Hayes die and when did his death occur?

Rutherford B. Hayes died from complications of a heart attack at home on the 17th of January 1893 at age seventy.

What major military injury did Rutherford B. Hayes sustain during the Civil War?

Rutherford B. Hayes suffered a bullet wound through his left arm fracturing the bone while leading a charge against entrenched positions at South Mountain on the 14th of September 1862.

How many electoral votes were disputed in the election of Rutherford B. Hayes?

Twenty electoral votes from Florida Louisiana and South Carolina were disputed in the election of Rutherford B. Hayes resulting in him receiving 185 total votes against Samuel J. Tilden's 184.

Why did Rutherford B. Hayes veto the Bland-Allison Act of 1878?

Rutherford B. Hayes vetoed the bill fearing inflation would ruin contracts based on the gold dollar despite Congress overriding his veto to pass the legislation.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford Birchard Hayes entered the world on the 4th of October 1822 in Delaware, Ohio. His father Rutherford Ezekiel Hayes Jr. died ten weeks before his son was born. A Vermont storekeeper had moved the family to Ohio in 1817 but left them shortly after. Sophia Birchard raised her two surviving children alone without remarrying. Her younger brother Sardis Birchard lived with the family and became a father figure to young Rutherford. He contributed significantly to the boy's early education and remained close throughout his life. Hayes descended from New England colonists who arrived from Scotland and England. His great-grandfather Ezekiel Hayes served as a militia captain during the American Revolutionary War. The grandfather later moved from Branford Connecticut to Vermont for peace during that conflict. Both sides of the family traced their roots back to these colonial migrations. John Noyes an uncle by marriage was his father's business partner in Vermont. This same uncle later won election to Congress. Mary Jane Mead a first cousin gave birth to sculptor Larkin Goldsmith Mead and architect William Rutherford Mead.

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The Civil War began when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in April 1861. Hayes joined a volunteer company composed of friends from his Literary Society. Governor William Dennison appointed officers from this group to positions in the 23rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Stanley Matthews a college classmate became lieutenant colonel while Hayes rose to major rank. Another future president named William McKinley joined the regiment as a private soldier. The unit fought at Carnifex Ferry in West Virginia in September 1861 before moving deeper into western Virginia. They sustained minor injuries during raids against rebel forces but faced serious combat at South Mountain on the 14th of September 1862. Hayes led a charge against entrenched positions and suffered a bullet wound through his left arm fracturing the bone. He ordered a man to tie a handkerchief above the injury to stop bleeding while continuing to lead his men. His command eventually retreated leaving him lying between opposing lines until rescued by his own troops. Hayes received four additional wounds during subsequent battles including Cloyd's Mountain and Cedar Creek. At Cedar Creek on the 19th of October 1864 he sprained an ankle after falling from a horse and was struck in the head by a spent round. General Ulysses S Grant later wrote that his conduct showed conspicuous gallantry beyond mere personal daring. The war ended with Lee's surrender at Appomattox in spring 1865. Hayes visited Washington D.C. for the Grand Review of the Armies before returning home to Ohio.

After the war Hayes returned to private law practice in Cincinnati where business improved significantly. He formed partnerships with John W. Herron then William K. Rogers and Richard M. Corwine. His legal work gained prominence defending murder suspects using insanity defenses and representing escaped slaves under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. These cases raised his profile within the newly formed Republican Party as a staunch abolitionist. Cincinnati voters elected him city solicitor in April 1859 by a larger majority than other Republicans on the ticket. He served three years before resigning to run for Congress in 1864 while still serving in the army. Friends asked him to leave the front lines to campaign but he refused stating officers fit for duty should not abandon posts to electioneer. He won election by a 2,400-vote majority over Democrat Alexander Long despite writing letters from the battlefield explaining his positions. Hayes served in Congress from December 1865 until July 1867 when he resigned to run for governor of Ohio. The election resulted in victory by 2,983 votes out of 484,603 cast despite Democratic control of the state legislature. As governor he oversaw establishment of schools for deaf-mutes and reform facilities for girls. He campaigned again in 1869 securing reelection with an increased majority allowing ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment guaranteeing black male suffrage.

Samuel J. Tilden won the popular vote in November 1876 claiming 184 electoral votes one short of majority. Rutherford Hayes appeared to have 166 votes with 20 disputed from Florida Louisiana and South Carolina. Republicans challenged results in those states citing fraud and voter suppression affecting freedmen who would otherwise vote Republican. One elector from Oregon was disqualified reducing Hayes's total to 165 and raising disputed votes to 20. Congress created a bipartisan Electoral Commission composed of five representatives five senators and five Supreme Court justices. Justice David Davis initially joined but withdrew after being elected to Senate by Democrats. Joseph P. Bradley replaced him as the most independent-minded justice. Eight Republicans voted unanimously to award all 20 contested votes to Hayes making his total 185 against Tilden's 184. Democratic leaders attempted filibusters preventing Congress from accepting findings until the 2nd of March 1877 when Senator Thomas W. Ferry announced election results at 4:10 AM. Republican and Democratic leaders met secretly at Wormley's Hotel negotiating concessions including withdrawal of federal troops from southern states. This Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction leaving freedmen vulnerable to white Democratic control without military enforcement.

Hayes took office determined to replace the spoils system with merit-based appointments requiring examinations for all applicants. He appointed Carl Schurz Secretary of Interior and William M. Evarts Secretary of State to lead reform efforts. Treasury Secretary John Sherman ordered investigations into New York Custom House where twenty percent employees were deemed expendable political appointees. Chester A. Arthur Collector of Port New York refused obeying executive orders forbidding campaign contributions from federal officeholders. Hayes demanded resignations in September 1877 which they rejected. He submitted Theodore Roosevelt Sr. L. Bradford Prince and Edwin Merritt as replacements but Senate Commerce Committee chaired by Roscoe Conkling voted unanimously against them. Full Senate rejected Roosevelt and Prince 31-25 confirming only Merritt due to expired terms. Hayes fired Arthur and Cornell during Congressional recess replacing them with Silas W. Burt and Merritt via recess appointments. Conkling opposed confirmation when Senate reconvened in February 1879 but both nominees approved by votes of 31-25 and 31-19 respectively. This victory provided precedent enabling Pendleton Act passage in 1883 signed by President Chester Arthur establishing permanent civil service reforms.

The Great Railroad Strike began July 1877 after Baltimore & Ohio Railroad cut employee wages following financial losses since Panic of 1873. Workers walked off job in Martinsburg West Virginia protesting pay reductions spreading to thousands across multiple railroads. Governor Henry M. Mathews requested federal troops arriving peacefully initially before riots erupted in Baltimore on July 20. Pittsburgh exploded into violence prompting Hayes to send Major General Winfield Scott Hancock commanding federal forces breaking strikes against private companies for first time. Riots spread to Chicago St Louis where strikers shut down facilities though no federal soldiers killed anyone. State militia clashes resulted deaths on both sides while railroads regained control short-term allowing some wage cuts to remain effective. Currency debates involved silver coinage versus gold standard. Richard P. Bland proposed bill requiring unlimited silver coinage increasing money supply aiding debtors. William Allison amendment limited monthly minting two to four million dollars creating Bland-Allison Act passed Congress 1878. Hayes vetoed fearing inflation ruining contracts based on gold dollar but Congress overrode his veto marking only such override during presidency. Specie Payment Resumption Act restored single gold-backed currency redeemable greenbacks successfully implemented 1879.

Hayes arbitrated territorial dispute between Argentina and Paraguay following Paraguayan War awarding Gran Chaco region land to Paraguay. Paraguayans honored decision renaming city Villa Hayes department Presidente Hayes granting official holiday Laudo Hayes Firm Day celebrating anniversary locally. Club Presidente Hayes soccer team named after him in Asunción capital. Chinese Exclusion Act passed Congress 1879 abrogating Burlingame Treaty allowing unrestricted Chinese immigration flow. Hayes vetoed believing treaties should not be broken without negotiation drawing bitter denunciation from Western United States though Northeastern Republicans praised action. Democrats attempted impeachment narrowly failing when Republicans prevented quorum refusing votes. Frederick W. Seward Assistant Secretary State negotiated new agreement reducing immigration leading to Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 enacted after Hayes left office. Indian policy included assimilation educational training dividing lands into household allotments under Dawes Act framework later signed Grover Cleveland 1887. Nez Perce tribe led Chief Joseph surrendered October 1877 Bear Paw Montana battle transported Kansas remaining until 1885. Bannock rose spring 1878 Idaho raided settlements defeated Howard army July. Ute war broke Colorado 1879 killing Nathan Meeker agent Schurz negotiated peace preventing white settler revenge.

Hayes declined seeking reelection 1880 keeping pledge running single term returning Spiegel Grove home with family. James A Garfield elected succeeding him consulting appointments next administration. He became companion Military Order Loyal Legion United States serving commander-in-chief national president 1888 until death the 17th of January 1893 age seventy. Advocated educational charities federal subsidies children believing education healed societal rifts appointed Ohio State University Board Trustees 1887 emphasizing vocational academic balance preached gospel work skilled labor part education. Urged Congress unsuccessfully pass Henry W. Blair bill allowing first federal aid education. Gave speech encouraging black students apply Slater Fund scholarships one recipient W.E.B. Du Bois received scholarship 1892. Died complications heart attack at home the 17th of January 1893 last words I know going where Lucy is funeral procession led Cleveland McKinley interred Oakwood Cemetery Fremont Ohio reinterred Spiegel Grove 1915 wife Lucy. Biographer Ari Hoogenboom wrote greatest achievement restoring popular faith presidency reversing executive power deterioration Lincoln assassination 1865 historians rank average below-average president.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

Five Wounds In Union Army

Five Wounds In Union Army

From Law Office To Governorship

The Disputed Electoral Count

Civil Service Reform Efforts

Labor Strikes And Currency Wars

Foreign Policy And Indian Affairs

Retirement And Historical Legacy

From Law Office To Governorship

The Disputed Electoral Count

Civil Service Reform Efforts

Labor Strikes And Currency Wars

Foreign Policy And Indian Affairs

Retirement And Historical Legacy

Up Next

Continue Browsing

Common questions

Rutherford B. Hayes.

1. Five Wounds In Union Army

1. Five Wounds In Union Army

2. From Law Office To Governorship

3. The Disputed Electoral Count

4. Civil Service Reform Efforts

5. Labor Strikes And Currency Wars

6. Foreign Policy And Indian Affairs

7. Retirement And Historical Legacy

2. From Law Office To Governorship

3. The Disputed Electoral Count

4. Civil Service Reform Efforts

5. Labor Strikes And Currency Wars

6. Foreign Policy And Indian Affairs

7. Retirement And Historical Legacy

Up Next

Continue Browsing

Common questions

Five Wounds In Union Army

Five Wounds In Union Army

From Law Office To Governorship

The Disputed Electoral Count

Civil Service Reform Efforts

Labor Strikes And Currency Wars

Foreign Policy And Indian Affairs

Retirement And Historical Legacy

From Law Office To Governorship

The Disputed Electoral Count

Civil Service Reform Efforts

Labor Strikes And Currency Wars

Foreign Policy And Indian Affairs

Retirement And Historical Legacy