Rutherford B. Hayes Biography

Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19 President of the United States; he was in the office from 1877 to 1881. His administration saw the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction and he is credited to have restored the citizens’ faith in presidency through his efforts to curb the corruption that had become rampant in the government. A lawyer by profession, he had completed his legal education from the Harvard Law School before opening his own law business in partnership with William K. Rogers and Richard M. Corwine. He soon gained prominence as a criminal defense attorney, and as a strict abolitionist, he also defended slaves who had escaped and were accused under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. He served in the army during the Civil War and rose to the rank of major general. The Republicans were much impressed by Hayes’ anti-slavery stance and requested him to become the presidential nominee. He successfully ran for presidency as a Republican against Democrat Samuel Tilden in 1876 and assumed office on March 4, 1877. As the president, he oversaw the end of the Reconstruction and was steadfast in his commitment to civil service reforms. He retired after one term and became an advocate of social and educational reforms