William Hercules Hays
Encyclopedia
William Hercules Hays was a United States federal judge
.
Hays was born in Washington County, Kentucky
. He read law in 1845. He was in private practice of law in Springfield, Kentucky
from 1845 to 1851. He was a county judge in Washington County from 1851 to 1859. Hays was in private practice of law in Springfield, Kentucky
from 1859 to 1860. He was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
in 1861. He was in the United States Army
colonel from 1861 to 1866. Upon the resignation of its first commander, Hays became commanding officer of the 10th Kentucky Infantry
. During the Battle of Chickamauga
, Hays assumed command of the II Corps and eventually command of the 2nd division. He rose to the rank of general officer.
Following the Civil War he was State inspector general of Kentucky from 1865 to 1866. He was an iil and gas entrepreneur, in Springfield, Kentucky from 1866 to 1867 and in private practice of law there from 1867 to 1879.
Hays was a federal judge to the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky. Hays received a recess appointment
from Rutherford B. Hayes on September 6, 1879 to a seat vacated by Bland Ballard
. Nominated on December 1, 1879 he was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 10, 1879 and received his commission the same day. Hays died on March 7, 1880 in Louisville, Kentucky
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Hays was born in Washington County, Kentucky
Washington County, Kentucky
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 10,916. Its county seat is Springfield. The county is named for George Washington. Washington County was the first county formed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it reached statehood...
. He read law in 1845. He was in private practice of law in Springfield, Kentucky
Springfield, Kentucky
Springfield is a city in and county seat of Washington County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census. It was established in 1793 and probably named for springs in the area.-Geography:...
from 1845 to 1851. He was a county judge in Washington County from 1851 to 1859. Hays was in private practice of law in Springfield, Kentucky
Springfield, Kentucky
Springfield is a city in and county seat of Washington County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census. It was established in 1793 and probably named for springs in the area.-Geography:...
from 1859 to 1860. He was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
in 1861. He was in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
colonel from 1861 to 1866. Upon the resignation of its first commander, Hays became commanding officer of the 10th Kentucky Infantry
10th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry
The 10th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 10th Kentucky Infantry was organized at Lebanon, Kentucky and mustered in for a three year enlistment on November 21, 1861.The regiment was attached to 2nd...
. During the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, Hays assumed command of the II Corps and eventually command of the 2nd division. He rose to the rank of general officer.
Following the Civil War he was State inspector general of Kentucky from 1865 to 1866. He was an iil and gas entrepreneur, in Springfield, Kentucky from 1866 to 1867 and in private practice of law there from 1867 to 1879.
Hays was a federal judge to the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky. Hays received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from Rutherford B. Hayes on September 6, 1879 to a seat vacated by Bland Ballard
Bland Ballard
Bland Ballard was a soldier and statesman from Kentucky.-Biography:Ballard was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1779, at age 18, he moved to Kentucky, which was the western frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as a scout in George Rogers Clark's 1780 expedition into the...
. Nominated on December 1, 1879 he was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on December 10, 1879 and received his commission the same day. Hays died on March 7, 1880 in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.