Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/520

 HAYDEN 3

Hayden, Horace H. (1768-1844).

Dr. Hayden was the son of Thomas Hayden, a lieutenant in the Revolu- tionary Army, and Abigail Parsons, and the farm upon which one William Hayden settled at Windsor in 1642 is still owned by his descendants. Horace Hayden was born at Windsor, Con- necticut, October 13, 1768 and, like his father, became an architect and builder. At the age of fourteen he made two trips to the West Indies as cabin boy aboard a brig. Later, when twenty-one or twenty-two, he again visited these islands, intending to live there, but the unhealthy climate compelled him to return. When six- teen he took up his trade as mechanic and pursued it for several years.

His attention was directed to den- tistry in 1795 by his needing a dentist and remarking the skill of Mr. John Greenwood, New York. He there- fore borrowed books and essays from Greenwood and set to work with en- ergy to master the subject. In 1S00 he removed to Baltimore, when an opening presented itself. His knowledge of his new calling was still imperfect and he was without friends and for- tune, but he was earnest and ambi- tious and soon drew practice and instructed students in dentistry in the evenings. It was in consequence of his attainments in these and other medi- cal and scientific studies that the honor- ary M. D. was conferred on him by Jefferson Medical College in 1S37 and by the University of Maryland in 1840. During the attack upon Baltimore by the British in 1874 he joined the militia, but medical men being in de- mand and his surgical skill being rec- ognized he was assigned to duty at the hospital as assistant surgeon, where he cared for the wounded as long as his services were required.

Although joined by Drs. Chapin and Harris in a petition to the authorities of the university for the foundation of a department of dentistry, he failed to secure his desire and was compelled to

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found an independent school, the Balti- more College of Dental Surgery, which was chartered on February 1, 1840 and of which he was made president and first professor of the principles of dental science and later professor of dental physiology and pathology, which title he held until his death, four years later.

As early as 1817 Dr. Hayden advo- cated the formation of an association of dental practitioners, but only in Au- gust, 1840, when a number of prominent American dentists assembled in New York City and founded the Ameri- can Society of Dental Surgeons was this effected. He was chosen its first president and held this office until death.

Dr. Hayden achieved fame also as a geologist, for he collected a valuable cabinet of American minerals, which in 1S50 became the basis of the great collection of Roanoke College, Virginia. The literature was so limited that he was compelled to master the French language that he might have access to the best books on that subject, from which he made many translations. His researches were embodied in a volume of four hundred pages, entitled "Geological Essays" (Baltimore, 1820), said to be the first general work on that subject published in America. He discovered a new mineral which was named after him "Haydenite," and was also a botanist of distinction, writing on silkworm culture, etc. He was a great sportsman.

He died at Baltimore January 26, 1844. On February 23, 1805 he mar- ried, at Baltimore, Maria Antoinette Robinson, daughter of Lieut. Daniel Robinson of the United States Reve- nue Service. In 1901 mural tablets were erected at the University of Maryland and Baltimore College of Dental surgery. Hayden's license to practise dentistry is at the former institution. E. F. C.

Hays, Isaac (1796-1879).

The name of Isaac Hays is always associated with that which is well written