He served again as Assistant Secretary of State under William M. Evarts from 1877 until his resignation in November 1879 due to illness. Seward was replaced by John Hay, the diplomat who was one of President Lincoln's former private secretaries.
He served as Assistant Secretary of State under William M. Evarts from 1877 until he resigned due to illness in November 1879. He was succeeded by John Hay, a former private secretary to President Lincoln.