Isaac Israel Hayes (1832-1881)

Isaac Israel Hayes was an American explorer, physician and politician. He began his career in 1853 as a ship's surgeon on an expedition to north west Greenland. Further Arctic expeditions followed including one he led himself in 1860-61. Returning home to discover the American Civil War had begun, he enrolled as a surgeon in the Union Army and was subsequently appointed in charge of the Satterlee General Hospital in Philadelphia. After the war he published a book about his expeditions called 'The Open Polar Sea', before being elected to the New York State Assembly some years later.  

"I gladly give the right they ask for… to make and

publish a translation of 'The Open Polar Sea'... "

In a letter written to Sampson Low from New York in June 1867, Isaac Israel Hayes discusses various publications and translations of his book 'The Open Polar Sea'. It's full title was 'The Open Polar Sea: a Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery towards the North Pole, in the Schooner United States'. The book was compiled from his journals. In his letter Hayes sanctions the publication of the book in French by Hachette & Co. and in German by Sampson Low. The book was first published in Britain in 1867 by Sampson Low & Marston and in America by Hurd & Houghton.  

View Isaac Israel Hayes' letter [opens in a new window] 

Image Rights: Brady-Handy photograph collection Library of Congress