Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born in Ohio in 1822. He was the 19th President of the United States. He studied at Harvard Law School and then worked as a lawyer for five years. In 1850, he moved to Cincinnati, where he flourished as a young Whig lawyer. He gained a healthy political reputation for defending fugitive slaves and was nominated for several senior legal positions.

He fought in the Civil War, was wounded in action five times. He earned a reputation for bravery and rose to the rank of major general. While still in the Army, Cincinnati Republicans ran him for the House of Representatives. He accepted the nomination and was elected by a heavy majority. Hayes entered Congress in December 1865. Between 1867 and 1876 he served three terms as Governor of Ohio.

Hayes pledged protection of the rights of black slaves in the South. He hoped the withdrawal of troops there would lead to reconciliation. Many Southern leaders approved of Hayes’ economic policies and financialconservatism. He reformed the civil service and saw the beginning of an era of greater prosperity. He leftoffice in 1881 and died of a heart attack at his home in January 1893, aged 70.

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