John Milton Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, and trusted adviser to President Abraham Lincoln. Born in 1838 in Salem, Indiana, and raised in Illinois, he studied at Brown University before becoming one of Lincoln’s private secretaries during the Civil War. Working closely with Lincoln gave Hay a firsthand understanding of the struggle to preserve the Union and expand the promise of liberty, shaping his lifelong commitment to democratic government and public service.

After Lincoln’s death, Hay served in diplomatic posts across Europe, worked as a journalist, and became a respected author. Determined to preserve Lincoln’s legacy, he joined John George Nicolay in writing a landmark ten-volume biography that introduced generations of Americans to Lincoln’s ideals of freedom, equality, constitutional government, and leadership devoted to the people.

Hay reached the peak of his career as U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt from 1898 to 1905. During a period of growing American influence abroad, he championed diplomacy and international cooperation. His Open Door Policy promoted equal trading opportunities in China, while his negotiations helped pave the way for construction of the Panama Canal.

The final chapter of Hay’s life unfolded at The Fells, his summer estate on the shores of Lake Sunapee in Newbury, New Hampshire. Built in the 1890s as a retreat for his family, the property became a place of reflection for one of America’s leading statesmen. Hay died there on July 1, 1905. Today, The John Hay Estate at the Fells stands as a reminder of his enduring commitment to public service, democratic ideals, and principled leadership.