Webb C. Hayes (March 20, 1856 – July 29, 1923) was an American businessman and soldier. He founded Union Carbide, fought in two wars, and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Webb Hayes was the second son of President Rutherford B. Hayes. He attended Cornell University from 1873 to 1875, but left to work as his father's secretary when his father was the governor of Ohio. When his father was elected president, he again served as his father’s secretary.

In 1881, Hayes moved to Cleveland to work as the treasurer of the Whipple Manufacturing Company. In 1887, he, with three others, founded the National Carbon Company, which is now known as Union Carbide. Hayes stayed with this company for many years as the vice president.

He also served in the military. He was a member of the First Cleveland Troop, later known as Troop A of the Ohio National Guard. During the Spanish American War, he became a major in the First Ohio Cavalry. He fought in the battles at Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and the invasion of Puerto Rico. He was wounded aduring the crossing of the San Juan River, and then participated in the assault on San Juan Hill.

Following this, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and sent to the Philippines. Just hours after landing there, he led a rescue party to free captured men at Vigan Island . He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this action. He went on to participate in the Boxer Rebellion, the China Relief Expedition, and the Russo-Japanese War.

During World War I, Hayes was promoted to colonel and first served as a special agent for the State Department in France. After the French pulled out of Paris, he was a regional commander on the Italian front.

He was the principal proponent for founding the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, the first presidential library.

References

• Biography at President Hayes' Library