Family and Education

b. 3 July 1733, 1st s. of William Hay.  educ. Westminster 1747; Göttingen Univ. unm.

Offices Held

Cornet 9 Drag. 1751; lt. 7 Drag. 1755, capt. 1757, maj. 1761; served on the expedition to Cherbourg 1758; in Germany 1759-63, as aide-de-camp to Granby; lt.-col. 1765; unattached list 1771.

Biography

In 1768 Hay was selected by Newcastle as candidate for Lewes, after having given an assurance that he would follow Newcastle in Parliament. A fortnight later Newcastle changed his mind; his relations in Sussex were uneasy at the choice of Hay; it would be ‘a perpetual exclusion of all of the name of Pelham for the future’;1 and he recommended instead Thomas Miller. But it was too late: Hay had already canvassed the town and had obtained promises from many of Newcastle’s tenants, and was elected. In 1774 he stood on his own interest; in 1780 he stood again but was defeated; he did not stand in 1784.

Hay voted with the Opposition in Parliament, but there is no record that he ever spoke in the House. He was described by George Hardinge as ‘a modest, virtuous, respectable, and sensible man; with no brilliancy of talent, but with a high sense of honour’.2

He died 9 Feb. 1786.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

• 1. Newcastle to Hay, 1 Mar. 1768, Add. 32989, f. 1.
• 2. Nichols, Lit. Anecs. viii. 520.