author
John L. (John Lord) Hayes
1812–1887
A 19th-century American writer whose work ranged from industry and agriculture to hymn translation, he moved easily between practical subjects and literary ones. Best known in public life for his leadership in the wool industry, he also left behind books that show a lively curiosity about science, trade, and culture.
1 Audiobook
Notes Upon Indigo
by John L. (John Lord) Hayes
About the author
Born in South Berwick, Maine, on April 13, 1812, John Lord Hayes was educated at Dartmouth College and built a career as a lawyer and public figure. He became especially prominent through his long connection with the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, where he wrote and spoke widely on wool, textiles, tariffs, and related branches of American industry.
Hayes was also a prolific author. Catalog records and surviving editions show him publishing works on subjects as varied as The Angora Goat; Its Origin, Culture and Products, sheep husbandry, indigo, and textile machinery. That range gives a good sense of his style as a writer: practical, well informed, and interested in how science, farming, manufacturing, and commerce fit together.
Late in life, he also turned to literary and devotional translation, including Corolla Hymnorum Sacrorum, a selection of early and medieval Latin hymns in English. He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 18, 1887, leaving a body of work that reflects both the intellectual energy and the industrial concerns of 19th-century America.