John Parker Hale (1806-1873), American antislavery politician, born in Rochester, New Hampshire. Originally a Democrat, Hale served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1843 to 1845 and in the U.S. Senate from 1847 to 1853. In 1852 he campaigned unsuccessfully for president as the candidate of the Free-Soil Party. Later, as a member of the Republican Party, he again served in the Senate from 1855 to 1865, and during the American Civil War he consistently supported the policies of President Abraham Lincoln. In 1863 Hale was accused of corruption in connection with work he did for the navy and, although a senatorial investigation acquitted him of having committed any crime, his reputation was damaged, and he was not nominated for another term. From 1865 to 1869 he served as U.S. minister to Spain.