Carl Hayden was born on 2 October 1877 in Hayden's Ferry [now Tempe], Arizona, USA. He was married to Nan Downing. He died on 25 January 1972 in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
Upon the admission of Arizona as a State into the Union, was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives and served from 19 February 1912 - 3 March 3 1927. Did not seek renomination in 1926, having become a candidate for the U.S. Senator.