Hayes was born in Windsor, Vt., Feb. 28, 1806. He was graduated from the Norwich military school in 1823, and studied chemistry under Prof. James Freeman Dana at Dartmouth, 1823–1826.[1][2]
Hayes was assistant professor of chemistry in the New Hampshire medical college, 1826–1828, and an expert chemist in Boston, Mass., 1828–1882. He was the discoverer of the organic alkaloid sanguinaria; invented in 1838 a novel arrangement of steam boilers for the economical generation of steam: and first suggested the application of oxides of iron in refining pig-iron; and a process for the production of saltpetre from sodium nitrate by the action of potassium hydroxide.[1]
Hayes was state assayer of Massachusetts, and he received the honorary degree of M.D. from Dartmouth in 1846. He died in Brookline, Mass., June 21, 1882.[1]
