Samuel Augustus Hayden (1839–1918) was a Baptist pastor, denominational leader and newspaper publisher.
After service in the army of the Confederate States of America, he served as a pastor and teacher in Louisiana.
Thereafter Hayden became a chief proponent of consolidating the five regional bodies, the two newspapers, and the two schools of Baptists in Texas.
Hayden and his paper played a major part in a controversy among Texas Baptists at the end of the 19th century.
Hayden and others became convinced of financial mismanagement on the part of the corresponding secretary of the Convention and other improprieties associated with the missions board.