Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hay, John (d.1706)

1412062Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 25 — Hay, John (d.1706)1891Henry Manners Chichester

HAY, Lord JOHN (d. 1706), brigadier-general, colonel royal Scots dragoons, now royal Scots greys, second son of John Hay, second marquis of Tweeddale [q. v.], by his wife Lady Anne Maitland, only child of the Duke of Lauderdale, entered the army in the Scots dragoons, since famous as the Scots greys; became lieutenant-colonel of the regiment; and commanded it in the campaigns under Marlborough in 1702–3. He became colonel of the regiment by purchase in 1704, and was made a brigadier-general. Under his command the greys, the royal Scottish dragoons, or Scots regiment of white horses, as they were sometimes called, greatly distinguished themselves in the succeeding campaigns, particularly at Schellenberg, where they were dismounted, and helped to storm the heights on foot, and at Ramillies, where they took prisoners the famous French régiment du Roi, and, according to tradition, won the distinction of wearing grenadiers' caps since enjoyed by the regiment. Hay married, first, Lady Mary Dalzell, only daughter of James, fourth earl of Carnwath, by Lady Mary Seton (Anderson, iii. 586); secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Charles Orreby or Orby, bart., of Crowland, Lincolnshire; she survived him, and remarried Major-general Robert Hunter [q. v.] Hay died of a lingering fever at Courtrai, 15 Aug. 1706, ‘to the regret of the whole army.’

[Anderson's Scottish Nation, under ‘Tweeddale,’ iii. 586; Cannon's Hist. Royal North Brit. Dragoons or Scots Greys; Marlb. Desp. iii. 105, 177.]

H. M. C.