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Isaac Israel HayesMedic, Arctic researcher
Date of Birth: 05.03.1832
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Isaac Israel Hayes
Isaac Israel Hayes was born in 1832 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. After completing his medical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, he became a ship's surgeon in 1853. This led him to join the 'Second Grinnell Expedition' under the leadership of Elisha Kent Kane, which aimed to search for the missing British explorer John Franklin in Greenland in 1854. During this expedition, Hayes explored the coast of Ellesmere Island, north of the 79th parallel, making it a new geographical discovery.
Leading his own Expedition
In 1860, Hayes led his own expedition in an attempt to explore the northern lands beyond Ellesmere Island. This time, the expedition followed the eastern coast of the island, reaching a latitude of 81°35' North and a longitude of 70°30' West. However, miscalculations and dwindling food supplies forced Hayes and his expedition to return home.
Civil War and Post-Expedition Life
Hayes returned to the United States in 1861, but his plans for another expedition were put on hold due to the outbreak of the Civil War. During the war, he commanded the Satterlee Hospital in Philadelphia, where he oversaw the care of over 4,500 wounded soldiers of the Union Army. Unfortunately, the war not only delayed his ambitious plans but also decreased public interest in polar exploration.
Legacy
Isaac Israel Hayes died on December 17, 1881, at the age of 49. In honor of his contributions, mountains on Canada's Ellesmere Island were named after his ship, the United States Range. Additionally, an island in the Russian archipelago of Franz Josef Land was named Hayes Island (Ostrov Kheysa) in his honor. Despite the obstacles he faced, Hayes made significant contributions to Arctic exploration and left a lasting legacy in geographical nomenclature.
