Hay, Walter (1830–1889).
Walter Hay, neurologist, was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, June 13, 1830, son of Charles Eustace Hay and Lucy Chandler. He was the grandson of Judge Hay, of Virginia, and was descended from Anthony Hay of Scotland, who settled in America after the Battle of Culloden.
Educated in private schools and at the Jesuit College at Georgetown, Walter Hay entered the United States Coast Survey in 1847 with the idea of becoming a topographical engineer, but in 1852 he resigned because of ill health. From 1849 to 1853 he studied medicine under Grafton Tyler at Georgetown, and in 1853 graduated at Columbian College, Washington. From that time until he moved to Chicago in 1857 he lived in Florida, to benefit his health.
In 1858 he was appointed in charge of St. James' Episcopal Hospital at Chicago; he was one of the founders of St. Luke's Hospital in 1864, and was the first physician to the hospital, serving one year. In 1866 he was active in controlling the cholera epidemic, and in 1867, with J. V. Z. Blaney (q. v.) and J. H. Rauch (q. v.) he organized the Chicago Health Department. In 1871 he served on the Fire-Relief Committee of five members formed to aid sufferers from the great Chicago fire (October 9, 1871); and the same year was called on to organize the department of mental and nervous diseases, with a clinic, in Rush Medical College, in 1872 becoming adjunct professor of theory and practice of medicine; later, he organized the same department in St. Joseph's Hospital, Chicago.
He was one of the organizers of the American Neurological Association in 1875 and in this year was made assistant surgeon in the United States Army and was on the staff of General Sheridan. In 1877 he removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and helped to organize the Dubuque Charity Hospital.
From 1867 until its sale in 1875 he was associated with J. A. Adams in editing the Chicago Medical Journal. From 1882 to 1885 he was professor of materia medica and from the latter year to 1889 was professor of neurology in the Chicago Medical College.
Dr. Hay married Rebecca, daughter of Samuel Ringgold, of Maryland, in 1856, who died in 1857; in 1864 he married Angelica, daughter of George Bridges Rodney, of Delaware; she died a year after her marriage, and in 1872 he married Maria, daughter of George Wallace Jones, of Iowa.
He died in 1889.